【医】 麦角菌

[ noun ]
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
<noun.plant>

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.

2. (Zo["o]l.) The mature or resting stage of a plasmodium.


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}.

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.

3. (Far.) A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a
chestnut, situated behind and below the pastern joint.

4. (Anat.) See 2d {Calcar}, 3
(b) .