A fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that contaminates rye and wheat and that produces substances (alkaloids) called ergotamines. Ergotamines constrict blood vessels and cause the muscle of the uterus to contract. They have been much used for the treatment of migraines. They have also been used and misused to induce abortion. In excess, ergotamines can ca [..]

fungal disease of rye and other grasses, 1680s, from French ergot "ergot," also "a spur, the extremity of a dead branch," from Old French argot "cock's spur" (12c.), [..]

The spore-producing reproductive body of a fungus that infects grain crops; ergot contains lysergic acid and ergonovine. erythroblastosis fetalis

(n) a plant disease caused by the ergot fungus(n) a fungus that infects various cereal plants forming compact black masses of branching filaments that replace many grains of the plant; source of medic [..]