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Ergot fungi
1 species
Claviceps is the genus of ergot fungi. They infect only the ovaries of grass and cereal flowers. The fungus first oozes a sticky, spore-laden honeydew and then replaces the grain with a hard, dark sclerotium called an ergot. Ergots are rich in toxic ergot alkaloids. Eating contaminated grain causes ergotism, a historically deadly poisoning. Some of the alkaloids are also the basis of medicines. Claviceps is the type genus of the family Clavicipitaceae.
Sclerotia (ergots): hard, elongated, often purple-black, replacing the host grain. Stromata: stalked, with a rounded head (capitulum) in which perithecia are partly embedded; they grow from sclerotia that have overwintered. Ascospores: thread-like (filiform). Asexual morph: Sphacelia, with one-celled hyaline conidia in honeydew.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
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