Week Six: Ergot

Common Name: Ergot

Scientific Name: Claviceps purpura

Not-So-Fun Fact: If ingested due to their presence in rye bread, ergot spores can lead to ergotism, a type of poisoning that constricts blood vessels. The symptoms of this condition include seizures, nausea, hysteria, hallucinations, burning sensations on the skin, and, if left untreated, gangrene and death.

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum-Ascomycota

Class-Sordariomycetes

Order-Hypocreales

Family: Clavicipitaceae

Genus: Claviceps

Species: C. purpura

Description: Ergot parasitizes rye grass, and manifests as a hard growth called a sclerotium that exactly mimics a stalk of rye.

Environment: Ergot is found attached to rye in temperate regions. The fungus prefers a chilly, damp environment.

Reproduction & Development:  Ergot is capable of reproducing sexually or asexually, and grows from spores released by the parent fungus. Ergot attaches itself to a neighboring rye plant. Once attached, the fungus grows into a new imitation of the host plant and releases its own spores.

Nutrition: Ergot feeds off of its host cereal grain plant, leeching nutrients from the real rye stalk it has mimicked.