NARCISSUS. 



595 



invaded by several longitudinal fissures and the material 

 here is formed into an irregular, nearly transparent fis- 

 sured mass which persists for a long time after the rest 

 of the grain is completely gelatinized. In the meantime, 

 the rest of the starch forming the marginal band be- 

 comes gradually thinner and more nearly transparent and 

 loses its striated appearance, but retains the lamellated 

 appearance until gelatinization is nearly complete. The 

 proximal end of this marginal band is the last to be 

 gelatinized. The particles of the primary starch are 

 very resistant, but gradually grow smaller and more 

 refractive and dually disappear. The gelatinized grains 

 are much swollen and have rather thick capsules. They 

 are somewhat distorted, but retain some resemblance to 

 the form of the untreated grain. 



Comparison of the nitric-acid reactions between N. 

 triandrus dlbus and N. emperor shows : 



The hilum is as distinct, but the lamellae are neither 

 so distinct nor so persistent, as in N. emperor. Gela- 

 tinization follows three methods of procedure instead of 

 but one. That noted in a number of the grains is not at 

 all the same as that seen in practically all the grains of 

 N. emperor. Two furrows or fissures extend transversely 

 or obliquely from either side of the hilum to the mar- 

 gin, and the material included between them is divided 

 into fine granules and then criss-crossed by irregular 

 fissures. After the division into granules this material 

 is gelatinized, with much swelling and considerable dis- 

 tortion of the capsule. The more resistant material at 

 the proximal end is divided by coarse striae and pushed 

 to the margin, where it gradually gelatinizes as the grain 

 swells. The second method is very similar to that de- 

 scribed in N. emperor, except that there is no distinction 

 between primary and secondary starch, and the behavior 

 of the whole grain is the same as that described for the 

 secondary starch. In the third method there are both pri- 

 mary and secondary starches, and the reaction is very 

 similar to that described under N. emperor, the main dif- 

 ferences noted being that the striae are not so fine and are 

 more distinct, and the particles of the primary starch are 

 smaller and more refractive, than in N. emperor. 



The gelatinized grains are more swollen and the cap- 

 sules are not so thick as in N. emperor. They are some- 

 what more distorted and bear more resemblance to the 

 form of the untreated grain. 



The reaction with sulphuric acid begins immediately. 

 Complete gelatinization occurs in about 80 per cent of 

 the entire number of grains and 94 per cent of the total 

 starch in 2 minutes, and in about 98 per cent of the 

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

 5 minutes. (Chart D 346.) 



The hilum becomes distinct, attended by the forma- 

 tion of a large bubble in a moderate number of grains. 

 The lamella? are usually obscured, but in some grains be- 

 come distinct for a short period in the course of the 

 reaction. Gelatinization begins in the interior of the 

 grains and proceeds according to two methods which 

 are, however, very much alike. In the first which is seen 

 in a large majority of the grains, 2 furrows or actual 

 fissures extend transversely or obliquely from either side 

 of the hilum to the margin, and the material surrounding 

 the hilum which represents primary starch, is separated 

 from the rest by a refractive fissure. Then all the 

 starch distal to the hilum and to the 2 furrows becomes 



homogeneous in appearance and more refractive, and 

 gelatinizes very rapidly, the primary as rapidly as the 

 secondary, with much .swelling and considerable distor- 

 tion of tin' capsule. Meanwhile the portion at the proxi- 

 mal end is not affected, and as the distal material swells 

 it forms a homogeneous-looking, refractive band at the 

 proximal margin. Here it is later gelatinized compara- 

 tively slowly. The second method is very much like the 

 first, the only difference being that the portion of the 

 grain immediately surrounding the hilum, which repre- 

 sents a primary starch formation and which exists in 

 many of the grains which are gelatinized by the first 

 method, but is not differentiated from the secondary 

 starch, is partially separated from the rest of the grain by 

 a refractive fissure and gelatinizes somewhat more slowly 

 than the rest of the distal material, but in the same way 

 and much more rapidly than the proximal portion. The 

 gelatinized grains are much swollen, have rather thin 

 capsules, and are considerably distorted. 



Comparison of the sulphuric-acid reactions between 

 N. triandrus alius and N. emperor shows : 



A bubble is formed at the hilum much more often 

 than in N. emperor, and the lamella? are usually ob- 

 scured during all of the reaction, as in N. emperor. 

 Gelatinization proceeds according to two methods, of 

 which one (seen in a small majority of the grains) is not 

 noted in N. emperor. The primary starch immediately 

 surrounding the hilum is partially separated from the 

 secondary starch by a refractive fissure and becomes 

 granular, and is then divided into three or four pieces 

 by the swelling of the bubble at the hilum. The second- 

 ary starch becomes homogeneous-looking and refractive 

 and gelatinizes very rapidly, with much swelling and 

 distortion of the capsule; the portions of the primary 

 starch meanwhile are widely separated and gelatinize 

 more slowly. The second method, which is seen in a large 

 minority, is the same as that found in a large majority of 

 the grains of N. emperor. The gelatinized grains are 

 more swollen, the capsules are thinner, and they are 

 more distorted than in N. emperor. 



Narcissus j. t. bennett poe (Hybrid). 



(Plate 15, fig 87; Charts D 341 to D 346.) 

 Histologic Properties. 

 In form the grains are usually simple and isolated, 

 and there are fewer compound grains and aggregates than 

 in either parent, in this respect showing a closer re- 

 semblance to N. emperor than to N. triandrus albus. 

 The compound grains belong to the two types noted under 

 both parents, but tend to have, as in N. triandrus albus, 

 more components than in N. emperor. The aggregates 

 are of the same types as in N. emperor, and aggregates 

 of compound and simple grains, and of compound grains 

 only, are seen which are not present in N. triandrus 

 albus. Simple grains, showing a clear distinction be- 

 tween primary and secondary starch formations^ are sel- 

 dom seen as in N. triandrus albus. The grains are as 

 irregular as in N. emperor, and the irregularities are due 

 to the same causes as in that starch. The conspicuous 

 forms are broad and slender ovoid, lenticular, broad 

 elliptical, and clam-shell-shaped. The additional forms 

 are reniform, pyriform, triangular with curved base and 

 rounded angles, irregularly quadrilateral with rounded 

 angles, and dome-shaped. 



