claviceps purpurea

Claviceps purpurea
    n 1: a fungus that infects various cereal plants forming compact
         black masses of branching filaments that replace many
         grains of the plant; source of medicinally important
         alkaloids and of lysergic acid [syn: {ergot}, {Claviceps
         purpurea}]
    

Sclerotium \Scle*ro"ti*um\, n.; pl. {Sclerotia}. [NL., fr. Gr.
   sklhro`s hard.]
   1. (Bot.) A hardened body formed by certain fungi, as by the
      {Claviceps purpurea}, which produces ergot.
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   2. (Zool.) The mature or resting stage of a plasmodium.
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Ergot \Er"got\, n. [F. ergot, argot, lit., a spur.]
   1. A diseased condition of rye and other cereals, in which
      the grains become black, and often spur-shaped. It is
      caused by a parasitic fungus, {Claviceps purpurea}.
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   2. The mycelium or spawn of this fungus infecting grains of
      rye and wheat. It is a powerful remedial agent, and also a
      dangerous poison, and is used as a means of hastening
      childbirth, and to arrest bleeding.
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   3. (Far.) A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a
      chestnut, situated behind and below the pastern joint.
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   4. (Anat.) See 2d {Calcar}, 3
      (b) .
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