Ergot (/ ˈ ɜːr ɡ ə t / UR-gət) or ergot fungi refers to a group of fungi of the genus Claviceps. [1] The most prominent member of this group is Claviceps purpurea ("rye ergot fungus").

May 25, 2022 · Ergot is a fungus that can grow on grains such as rye and wheat. Symptoms of ergot poisoning or ergotism vary but include dizziness, convulsions, and psychosis. In the past, midwives and doctors...

Ergot is a fungus that grows on rye and less commonly on other grasses such as wheat. Ergot has an interesting history. During the Middle Ages, ergotism, a severe reaction to...

Mar 12, 2025 · ergot, fungal disease of cereal grasses, especially rye, caused by species of the ascomycete fungus Claviceps. The disease decreases the production of viable grains by infected plants and can contaminate harvests.

Most commonly attacking rye, ergot infects and replaces the cereal grain with a dark fungal body called a “sclerotium.” When made into bread or otherwise ingested (e.g. barley beer), it causes ergotism, also known as “St. Anthony’s Fire” or “Devil’s curse.”

Nov 2, 2018 · Ergotism is a form of poisoning from ingesting grains, typically rye, that have been infected by the ascomycete fungus Claviceps purpurea. The infection replaces individual grains with dark, hard ergots (see image 2A) that get mixed in …

The term ergot is the common disease name for a group of fungi in the genus Claviceps. Ergot also refers to the typically elongated fungal structure, technically known as a sclerotium (Figure 1). Claviceps is a unique group of fungi, which infect only the ovaries of grasses, replacing what would normally be a seed with a sclerotium.

Sep 30, 2024 · Ergotism, or ergot poisoning, is when a person or animal eats food that has been contaminated with a fungus called C. purpurea. The fungus is most commonly found in rye, but it can affect other...

Ergotism, a condition caused by ingesting ergot fungi-contaminated grains, can lead to severe symptoms requiring prompt treatment. Treatment options typically aim to manage symptoms and prevent complications.

The meaning of ERGOT is the black or dark purple sclerotium of fungi (genus Claviceps) that occurs as a club-shaped body replacing the seed of a grass (such as rye); also : a fungus bearing ergots.