NARCISSUS. 



523 



sure; (4) an irregularly stellate arrangement of fissures 

 radiating from the hilum; (5) flying-bird shape. The 



hilum is sometimes centric but commonly is eccentric 

 from 0.4 to 0.28, usually 0.35 of the longitudinal axis. 

 In the character and eccentricity of the hilum N. poeticus 

 herriclc shows a closer relationship to N. poeticus ornatus 

 than to N. poeticus poelarum. 



The lamella are as distinct, as coarse, and have the 

 same characteristics and arrangement as in N. poeticus 

 ornatus. The number counted on some of the larger 

 grains varies from 8 to 16, usually 10. In the character 

 and arrangement of the lamella}, N. poeticus herriclc 

 shows a somewhat closer relationship to N. poeticus 

 ornatus than to N. poeticus poetarum. There is, how- 

 ever, very little difference to be noted between the parents 

 and the hybrid in this respect. 



The size of the grains varies from the smaller which 

 are 5 by 5/*, to the larger broad forms which are 38 by 

 46/*, rarely, 26 by 50tt, in length and breadth. The com- 

 mon sizes are 30 by 22/*, 28 by 30/*., and 24 by 24/*. In 

 size N. poeticus herriclc shows a somewhat closer rela- 

 tionship to N. poeticus poetarum than to N. poeticus 



oma(us. 



Polariscopic Properties. 



The figure is as distinct as in N. poeticus poetarum, 

 hut is more often well-defined than in that starch, in 

 this respect resembling N. poeticus ornatus. The lines 

 intersect one another at angles of widely varying size 

 and are as apt to be bisected and bent as in N. poeticus 

 poetarum. The figure, as in N. poeticus poetarum, is 

 frequently in the form of a conjugate hyperbola, or of a 

 longitudinal line bisected at both ends. 



The degree of polarization varies from low to very 

 high (value 47), and there is the same amount of varia- 

 tion in a given aspect of an individual grain as in N. 

 poeticus poetarum. 



With selenite the quadrants are not well defined and 

 are as irregular in shape and as unequal in size as in N. 

 poeticus poetarum. The colors, as in N. poeticus poe- 

 tarum, are usually not pure and there are few which have 

 a greenish tinge. 



In the character of the figure and the appearance with 

 selenite N. poeticus herriclc shows a closer relationship 

 to N. jjoeticus poetarum, but in the degree of polarization 

 it shows a closer relationship to N. poeticus ornatus. 



Iodine Reactions. 

 With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solution the grains color 

 a moderate violet tinged with blue (value 45), the same 

 as in N. poeticus poetarum, and the color deepens with 

 moderate rapidity, until it is very deep, becoming at 

 the same time more bluish in tint. With 0.125 per cent 

 Lugol's solution, the grains color as lightly as in N. poeti- 

 cus poetarum, and deepen with moderate rapidity until 

 they are deeply colored. After heating in water until the 

 grains are all gelatinized, and then adding a 2 per cent 

 Lugol's solution, the gelatinized grains all color a moder- 

 ate indigo-blue and the solution a deep indigo-blue, as 

 in N. poeticus poetarum. If the preparation is boiled 

 for 2 minutes and then treated with a 2 per cent Lugol's 

 solution, as in N. poeticus poetarum most of the grain- 

 residues color a light indigo, and in a few only the capsule 

 is stained; the capsules color red or reddish violet; and 

 the solution a very deep indigo. 



Qualitatively and quantitatively the iodine reactions 

 of N. poeticus herrick are closer to those of N. poeticus 

 poelarum than to those of N. poeticus ornatus. 



Aniline Reactions. 



With gentian violet the grains color very lightly at 

 once, and in half an hour they are lightly colored (value 

 25), less than in either parent, but closer to N. poeticus 

 ornatus. 



With safranin the grains color very lightly at once, 

 and in 30 minutes they are light to moderately colored 

 (value 40), less than in cither parent, but closer to N. 

 poeticus ornatus. 



In the reactions with aniline stains N. poeticus her- 

 rick shows a closer relationship to N. poeticus ornatus 

 than to N. poeticus poetarum. 



Temperature Reactions. 



The temperature of gelatinization of the majority of 

 the grains is 69° to 71° C, and of all is 7G° to 78° C, 

 mean 77° C. 



In the temperature of gelatinization N. poeticus her- 

 rick is much closer to that of N. poeticus ornatus than to 

 N. poeticus poetarum. 



Effects of Various Reagents. 



The reaction with chloral hydrate begins in rare 

 grains in 1 minute. Complete gelatinization occurs in 

 about 1 per cent of the entire number of grains and 4 

 per cent of the total starch in 5 minutes ; in about 3 per 

 cent of the gTains and 6 per cent of the total starch in 

 15 minutes; in about 5 per cent of the grains and 10 per 

 cent of the total starch in 30 minutes ; in about 7 per cent 

 of the grains and 12 per cent of the total starch in 45 

 minutes; in about 8 per cent of the grains and 14 per 

 cent of the total starch in 60 minutes. (Chart D 259.) 



There are fewer grains in which a bubble is formed 

 than in either parent — an accentuation of a characteristic 

 of N. poeticus poetarum. The lamella? are at first indis- 

 tinct and later become moderately distinct as in both 

 parents. The marginal band of material, which is the 

 first part of the grain to show an increased refractivity, 

 is of the same size and degree of refractivity as in N. 

 poeticus ornatus. Gelatinization as in both parents be- 

 gins at various discrete points on the margin and proceeds 

 according to two methods, both of which are very much 

 like the methods described under N. poeticus poetarum, 

 the main differences noted being that there are fewer 

 grains in which gelatinization proceeds inward from the 

 initial points, producing large cup-shaped hollows, and 

 there is somewhat less granule formation than in N. poeti- 

 cus poetarum, but more than in N. poeticus ornatus. 

 The gelatinized grains are as much swollen, have a thin 

 capsule, and are as much distorted as in N. poeticus 

 poetarum. 



In the reaction with chloral hydrate N. poeticus her- 

 rick shows qualitatively a closer relationship to N. poeti- 

 cus poetarum than to N. poeticus ornatus. 



The reaction with chromic acid begins in 1 minute. 

 Complete gelatinization occurs in less than 0.5 per cent 

 of the grains and 5 per cent of the total starch in 5 

 minutes; in about 2 per cent of the grains and 42 per 

 cent of the total starch in 15 minutes ; in about 5 per cent 

 of the grains and 70 per cent of the total starch in 30 

 minutes; in about 12 per cent of the grains and 82 per 



