548 



DATA OP PROPERTIES OF STARCHES OF PARENT- AND HYBRID-STOCKS. 



are much more often scattered instead of remaining 

 clumped together and the lamellated appearance of the 

 marginal band is not so persistent. A large minority 

 follows the second type as described in N. telainonius 

 plenus, and a very few follow the third type. The gela- 

 tinized grains are as much swollen and have the same 

 size capsules as in N. poeticus omatus and are more 

 distorted than in either parent. In this reaction N. 

 doubloon shows qualitatively a closer relationship to N. 

 telainonius plenus than to N. poeticus omatus. 



The reaction with sulphuric acid begins immediately. 

 Complete gelatinization occurs in about 82 per cent of 

 the entire number of grains and 97 per cent of the total 

 starch in 2 minutes; in more than 99 per cent of the 

 grains and total starch in 5 minutes. (Chart D 298.) 



The hilum and lamellae are as distinct and a bubble 

 is as frequently formed at the hilum as in N. telainonius 

 plenus. Gelatinization begins at the hilum and pro- 

 gresses according to the two methods described under 

 N. poeticus omatus, only one of which is seen in N. tela- 

 inonius plenus. A somewhat larger majority of the 

 grains follows the first method described than in N. 

 poeticus omatus, but there are no marked differences, 

 except that the secondary starch is usually divided into 

 portions of varying size by irregular concentric fissures, 

 as in N. telainonius plenus. In the second method there 

 are no marked differences between the hybrid and N. 

 poeticus omatus. The gelatinized grains are as much 

 swollen, have as thick capsules, and are as much distorted 

 as in N. poeticus omatus. In this reaction N. doubloon 

 shows, qualitatively, a somewhat closer relationship to 

 N. poeticus omatus than to N. telainonius plenus. 



17. Staeciies of, Narcissus princess maey, N. 



POETICUS POETARUM, AND N. CRESSET. 



Starch of N. poeticus poetarum is described on pages 

 519 to 522. 



N. PRINCESS MART (SEED PARENT) . 

 (Plate 11, fig. 64; Charts D 299 to D 304.) 

 Histologic Properties. 

 In form the grains are usually simple and isolated. 

 There is a moderate number of aggregates and few com- 

 pound grains. The compound grains belong to two 

 types in their order of frequency of occurrence: (1) 

 A number of hila irregularly placed in an amorphous- 

 looking mass of starch which is surrounded by 1 or 2 

 layers or lamellae of secondary starch; (2) 2 small grains 

 of equal size surrounded by 2 to 4 common secondary 

 lamellae. The aggregates are usually of 2 grains of 

 equal size adherent at the distal ends or sides, though 

 they may consist of 3 grains linearly arranged. In a 

 large minority of the simple grains a primary and a sec- 

 ondary formation of starch may be clearly distinguished. 

 The grains are usually somewhat irregular in form and 

 the irregularities are due to the following causes: (1) 

 Numerous small, irregular depressions and elevations in 

 the surfaces and around the margins of the grains; (2) 

 a few large depressions and rounded protuberances, 

 usually at the distal end, but occasionally at the proximal 

 end or sides; (3) irregularly placed pressure facets; 

 (4) rarely, regular radiating elevations and depressions 

 in the surface near the distal end giving a fluted appear- 

 ance to the grain. The conspicuous forms are ovoid, 



nearly round, and plano-convex. The additional forms 

 are dome-shaped, triangular, lenticular, and elliptical. 

 The grains are not flattened. 



The hilum, when it is not fissured, is a distinct, 

 round, rarely, elongated, lenticular spot. It is fissured in 

 the great majority of the grains and the fissures have 

 the following forms in the order of their frequency of 

 occurrence: (1) Cruciate; (2) T-Y,- or X -shaped; (3) 

 longitudinal line which is often somewhat branched, 

 a dragon-fly figure; (4) a single straight, transverse, or 

 occasionally two parallel transverse lines, are seen, one 

 distal to the hilum and one passing through it; (5) a 

 number of fissures arranged in an irregularly stellate 

 fashion. The hilum is sometimes centric, but in the 

 great majority of the grains it is eccentric from 0.43 

 to 0.29, usually 0.36, of the longitudinal axis. 



The lamella? are not visible in many grains, and when 

 they are visible, are never very distinct. They are con- 

 tinuous rather coarse rings which conform in general to 

 the outline of the grain, but only near the margin do 

 they follow the contour closely. The number counted 

 on some of the larger grains varies from 6 to 12. 



The size of the grains varies from the smaller which 

 are 4 by 4/t, to the larger which are 30 by 42/a and 22 by 

 42/t, in length and breadth. The common sizes are 28 by 

 28^, 28 by 34/*, and 15 by 30/*. 



Comparison of the histologic characteristics between 

 N. poeticus poetarum and N. princess inary shows : 



There are more compound grains aud more aggre- 

 gates. The compound grains belong to three types, two 

 of which are the same as those described in N. princess 

 mary, and the third consists of a large grain to the side 

 or end of which a small grain has become adherent and 

 both are inclosed in 2 or 3 common secondary lamella?. 

 The aggregates of the simple grains are of the same 

 character as in N. princess mary, and there are in addi- 

 tion aggregates of compound grains and of one com- 

 pound and one simple grain. The grains are somewhat 

 more irregular in shape and the irregularities are due 

 to the same causes and also to two small notches in the 

 margin at either side of the proximal apex. The former 

 are more numerous and more varied and somewhat more 

 rounded as a rule. The grains are not flattened. 



The hilum is more distinct when not fissured and it 

 is not quite so frequently fissured ; the fissures are deeper 

 and more extensive but have the same forms as in JV. 

 princess mary, with the exception of the 2 parallel trans- 

 verse fissures, which do not occur iu these grains. The 

 hilum is very nearly as eccentric as in N. princess mary, 

 the average eccentricity being 0.38 of the longitudinal 

 axis. 



The lamella are more often moderately distinct and 

 not so coarse, but are otherwise the same as in N. princess 

 mary. 



In size the large grains are larger, and there are more 

 large grains, than in N. princess mary. The common 

 sizes are very nearly the same. 



Polariscopic Properties. 

 The figure in most of the grains is moderately dis- 

 tinct and well defined, but in some grains is neither 

 distinct nor well defined. The lines usually cross one 

 another at acute angles of varying size, but sometimes at 

 right angle. They are often bent and sometimes bisected. 



