'Claviceps purpurea' definitions:

Definition of 'Claviceps purpurea'

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 [syn: ergot, Claviceps purpurea]

Definition of 'Claviceps purpurea'

From: GCIDE

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. [1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) The mature or resting stage of a plasmodium. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Claviceps purpurea'

From: GCIDE

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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
3. (Far.) A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a chestnut, situated behind and below the pastern joint. [1913 Webster]
4. (Anat.) See 2d Calcar, 3 (b) . [1913 Webster]