566 



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



of both N. albicans and N. abscissus, although in many 

 grains it is scattered widely as in both parents, and the 

 particles of the primary starch are larger, while the 

 stria? are even less fine than in N. abscissus. The gela- 

 tinized grains are much swollen and have thinner cap- 

 sules and are more distorted than in either parent, which 

 are accentuations of characteristics of 'N. abscissus. In 

 this reaction N. bicolor apricot shows qualitatively a 

 closer relationship to N. abscissus than to N. albicans. 



The reaction with sulphuric acid begins immediately. 

 Complete gelatinization occurs in about 93 per cent of 

 the entire number of grains and 98 per cent of the total 

 starch in 2 minutes, and in about 99 per cent of the 

 grains and in more than 99 per cent of the total starch 

 in 5 minutes. (Chart D 316.) 



The hilum and lamellae are as distinct as in both 

 parents. Gelatinization begins at the hilum and pro- 

 gresses according to the two methods described in N. 

 abscissus. In the first method, which is seen in a larger 

 majority of the grains than in N. abscissus, the differ- 

 ences noted are that the primary starch is more apt to be 

 divided into but two or three pieces, which remain 

 clumped together in the center of the grain or is not 

 divided at all, but remains as a simple grain which is 

 gelatinized independently and after the secondary starch. 

 In the second method the only difference noted was that 

 the distal material usually becomes more refractive and 

 then a finely granular mass which is gelatinized at the 

 hilum first, then outward toward the margin, instead 

 of being divided by concentric fissures into portions of 

 varying size which are gelatinized at the margin first, 

 then inward toward the hilum. The gelatinized grains 

 are as much swollen and more distorted than in either 

 parent, and have capsules which are not so thick as in 

 either parent. In this reaction N. bicolor apricot shows 

 qualitatively a closer relationship to N. abscissus than 

 to N. albicans. 



20. Starches of Narcissus empress, N. albicans, 



AND N. MADAME DE GRAAFF. 



Starch of Narcissus albicans is described on pages 560 

 to 564. 



Narcissus empress (Seed Parent). 



(Plate 13, fig. 73; Charts D 317 to D 322.) 

 Histologic Properties. 

 In form the grains are usually simple and isolated, 

 with the exception of a moderate number which occur 

 in small aggregates of 2, 3, or 4 grains linearly or 

 pyramidally arranged. A moderate number of com- 

 pound grains have from 2 to 6 or 7 components, and 

 there are a few grains which are combinations of com- 

 pounds and aggregates. The compound grains belong 

 to two types: In the first there are 2, 3, or 4 small 

 or moderate-sized grains, each with a hilum and 3 or 4 

 lamella?, and all are surrounded by 3 or 4 common 

 lamellae. In the second there are 6 or 7 hila, each hilum 

 with 1 lamella surrounding it, all in turn inclosed by 

 4 or 5 secondary lamellae. There are a great number of 

 grains which show a rather small primary grain, around 

 which are a number of secondary lamella?, somewhat 

 or entirely changing the original form of the grain. The 

 starches of the two deposits are differentiated from one 



another very plainly by a distinct, rather deep furrow, 

 and by differences in their degrees of refractivity. The 

 grains are usually irregular in form and the irregulari- 

 ties are due to the following causes: (1) Small or large 

 rounded protuberances from the proximal end and the 

 sides, or, rarely, from the distal end; (2) depressions and 

 elevations in the margin and surface of the grain, giving 

 it a wavy or undulating outline ; (3) the greater develop- 

 ment of one part of the distal end; (4) secondary de- 

 posits of starch in various places which change the orig- 

 inal form of the grain; (5) irregularly placed and vary- 

 ing-sized pressure facets; (6) deviation of the longitu- 

 dinal axis usually at the middle or distal end, with a 

 consequent bending of the grain; (7) two indentations, 

 one on either side of and just below the apex of the 

 proximal end. The conspicuous forms are ovoid, which 

 may be broad or narrow and which may have either a 

 pointed or a blunt end, lenticular, nearly round, and 

 dome-shaped. There are also pyriform, triangular with 

 rounded base and angles, plano-convex, clam-shell, and 

 irregularly quadrilateral grains. 



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

 small, round, or, rarely, lenticular-shaped spot, but it is 

 usually fissured, and the fissures are deep and extensive 

 and take the following forms: (1) A single, short, 

 straight line, placed transversely, obliquely, or, rarely, 

 longitudinally; (2) T- and Y-shaped; (3) cruciate, 

 irregularly X-shaped, and V-shaped; (4) a flying-bird 

 figure. The hilum is sometimes centric, but in the 

 majority of the grains is eccentric from 0.42 to 0.31. 

 usually 0.35, of the longitudinal axis. 



The lamella; are usually not distinct, but in some 

 grains they are moderately distinct, and appear as rather 

 coarse continuous rings which have in general the form 

 of the outline of the grain. In the grains which have a 

 secondary deposit of starch, lamella? are rarely visible in 

 the primary but are very distinct in the secondary de- 

 posit. The number counted on some of the larger grains 

 varies from 4 to 12, usually 6. 



In size the grains vary from the smaller which are 

 4 by 4/x, to the larger forms which are 30 by 40/*, and 

 the larger elongated forms which are 34 by 32/*, in length 

 and breadth. The common sizes are 24 by 30/* and 28 

 by 14/*. 



Comparison of the histologic characteristics between 

 JV. albicans and N. empress shows : 



The grains of N. albicans occur more frequently in 

 aggregates, and there are more compound grains of the 

 same type than were found in N. empress. The grains 

 are rather less irregular than in N. empress, but the 

 irregularities are due to the same causes. The conspic- 

 uous forms are ovoid, which are usually broader and 

 more rounded than in N. empress; and nearly round 

 and short elliptical, neither of which is noted in N. 

 empress. There are the same additional forms, but all 

 are more rounded than those of N. empress. 



The hilum when not fissured is not so distinct as in 

 N. empress, and is fissured as often but not so exten- 

 sively. The fissures have the same forms as in N. em- 

 press, except that a long, irregularly branching line is 

 also sometimes seen. The hilum is not so eccentric as in 

 N. empress, the average eccentricity being 0.38 of tin* 

 longitudinal axis. 



