558 



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



either remains intact or is broken into three or four 

 pieces and then gelatinized. In the second method, 

 which is seen in a few grains, 2 furrows, or in some cases 

 actual fissures, extend horizontally from either side of 

 the hilum to the margin and the material included be- 

 tween them, the hilum and the margin is divided by 

 concentric fissures into portions of varying size, and these 

 portions are gelatinized from without inward, the portion 

 just distal to the hilum being the last to be gelatinized. 

 The material at the proximal end and sides nearby is 

 pushed to the margin, and these remain as a homoge- 

 neous-looking, thick, refractive band which is gelatinized 

 rather slowly after the rest of the grain has been gela- 

 tinized. The gelatinized grains are much swollen, have 

 rather thick capsules, and are much distorted. 



Comparison of the sulphuric-acid reactions between 

 N. poeticus poetarum and N. abscissus shows: 



A bubble is not formed at the hilum nearly so fre- 

 quently and the lamellae are not so distinct as in JV. 

 abscissus. Gelatinization progresses according to two 

 methods, which are very nearly the same as those already 

 described under JV. abscissus. The first, which is seen 

 in the great majority of the grains, is that which is de- 

 scribed as occurring in only a few grains of JV. abscissus, 

 and the main points of difference recorded are that fol- 

 lowing the preliminary separation by concentric fissures 

 which occurs in both starches, this starch melts down 

 into a finely granular mass and is gelatinized from 

 within outward apparently, instead of remaining more 

 or less distinctly fissured and being gelatinized from 

 without inward, as in JV. abscissus. In the second 

 method, which is seen in but few grains and which is 

 that described for the great majority of grains of JV. 

 abscissus, the main points of difference noted are that 

 the primary starch is divided always into several pieces 

 and is always very resistant, while the secondary starch 

 is divided by concentric fissures into portions of varying 

 size as a preliminary to gelatinization. The gelatinized 

 grains are as much swollen, have thinner capsules, and 

 are as much distorted as in JV. abscissus. 



Narcissus will scarlet (Hybrid). 



(Plate 12, fig. 69; Charts D 305 to D 310.) 

 Histologic Properties. 



In form the grains are usually simple and isolated, 

 and there are somewhat fewer compound grains and 

 aggregates than in JV. abscissus, but more than in JV. 

 poeticus poetarum. The compound grains belong to the 

 two types described under JV. abscissus, and the aggre- 

 gates are also of the same types as in that starch. There 

 are comparatively few grains in which primary and sec- 

 ondary starch formations can be clearly seen, and in this 

 the hybrid is somew r hat closer to JV. poeticus poetarum 

 than to JV. abscissus. The grains are as irregular as in 

 N. abscissus, and the irregularities are due to the same 

 causes enumerated in that starch. The conspicuous 

 forms are plano-convex, ovoid, lenticular, and broad reni- 

 form. The additional forms are triangular, irregularly 

 quadrilateral, and elliptical. 



In form JV. will scarlet shows a somewhat closer 

 relationship to JV. abscissus than to JV. poeticus poetarum. 



The hilum is as distinct as in both parents, and is not 

 so often nor so deeply and extensively fissured as in either 



parent, and in this it shows a closer relationship to JV. 

 abscissus. The fissures have the same forms in the same 

 order of frequency of occurrence as in JV. abscissus. The 

 hilum is sometimes centric, but in the majority of the 

 grains it is eccentric from 0.42 to 0.29, usually 0.37, of 

 the longitudinal axis. 



In the character of the hilum JV. tvill scarlet shows 

 a somewhat closer relationship to N. abscissus than to 

 JV. poeticus poetarum. The degree of eccentricity in the 

 three starches is practically the same. 



The lamellae are in some grains very distinct and in 

 others moderately distinct, more than in either parent, 

 and in this respect showing a closer relationship to JV. 

 abscissus than to JV. poeticus poetarum. They are rather 

 fine continuous rings which follow the form of the outline 

 of the grain. The number counted on the larger grains 

 varies from 8 to 14, usually 12. 



In the character of the lamellae JV. will scarlet shows 

 a closer relationship to JV. abscissus than to JV. poetictis 

 poetarum. 



In size the grains vary from the smaller which are 

 4 by 4/i, to the larger which are 38 by 44/i and 40 by 42/x. 

 The common sizes are 34 by 38/x. and 32 by 34^.. The 

 large grains of JV. ivill scarlet are the same as in JV. ab- 

 scissus, but the common-sized grains are closer the size 

 of those of JV. poeticus poetarum. 



Polariscopic Properties. 



The figure as in JV. abscissus is not very distinct and 

 is not often well defined. The lines cross at angles of 

 widely varying degree, and are often bent and sometimes 

 bisected, as in the parents. There are a number of 

 multiple figures and some of the figures have 5 and 6 

 lines instead of 4. There are also the same number of 

 figures which have the forms of a conjugate hyperbola, or 

 a long line bisected at both ends, as in the parents. 



The degree of polarization varies from low to high 

 (value 43), the same as in JV. abscisstis and more than in 

 JV. poeticus poetarum. There is the same amount of 

 variation in a given aspect of an individual grain as in 

 the parents. 



With selenite the quadrants as in JV. abscissus are not 

 well defined, and are unequal in size and irregular in 

 shape. The colors are not pure and there are few grains 

 which have a greenish tinge. 



In the degree of polarization, the character of the 

 figure, and the appearance with selenite, JV. will scarlet 

 shows a closer relationship to JV. abscissus than to JV. 

 poeticus poetarum. 



Iodine Reactions. 

 With 0.25 per cent Lugol*s solution the grains all 

 color a light to moderate violet tinged with blue (value 

 45), the same as in JV. poeticus poetarum, and more than 

 in JV. abscissus. With 0.125 per cent Lugol's solution the 

 grains all color a light violet, the same as in A T . poeticus 

 poetarum and more than in JV. abscissus. After heating 

 in water until all the grains are gelatinized and then add- 

 ing a 2 per cent Lugol's solution the gelatinized grains 

 all color a moderate indigo, the same as in JV. poeticus 

 poetarum, and the solution a deep indigo, the same as 

 in JV. poeticus poetarum. If the preparation is boiled 

 for 2 minutes and then treated with an excess of a 2 per 

 cent Lugol's solution the grain-residues color a light to 



