Claviceps purpurea

(Fr.) Tul

Ergot

Clavicipitaceae Potential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Poisonous

This poisonous fungus yields alkaloids only to be used by medical practitioners.

Known Hazards

Documented Toxic Effects

ergotism

Source: Encyclopedia of Life TraitBank. Toxicity often varies by plant part — consult the hazards section above for preparation-specific details.

Where to Find It

Asia, India, Worldwide,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A parasitic fungus that grows on rye and cereals, belonging to the family Clavicipitaceae.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Claviceps purpurea is an ergot fungus that grows on the ears of rye and related cereal and forage plants. Consumption of grains or seeds contaminated with the survival structure of this fungus, the ergot sclerotium, can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals. C. purpurea most commonly affects outcrossing species such as rye (its most common host), as well as triticale, wheat and barley. It affects oats only rarely.

Notes

It is used in medicine.

References (3)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 131
Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 287
Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 173