Abstract
Starch samples were prepared from the tuberous root of Turu-dokudami, Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., Momiji-hirugao, Ipomoea cairica Sweet, and Yama-no-imo, Dioscorea japonica Thunb. ; the yields were 6, 4, and 20%, respectively. These starches were examined as to granular size and shape, phosphorus, and protein contents, the X-ray diffraction pattern, iodine coloration, swelling power, solubility, amylogram, the digestibility of the raw starches by glucoamylase, and other properties. Turu-dokudami starch was comparatively small in size and swelled easily . Momiji-hirugao starch had similar properties to that of Satuma-imo belonging to the same genus, except that the former showed B-type of X-ray diffraction pattern. Starch granules of Yama-no-imo had a fairly large size with smooth surface, and seemed to have a hard structure.
