ergot
Grain-infecting mold
Ergot is a fungal disease of cereals, especially rye, in which dark elongated growths replace the grain kernels.
These growths contain toxic alkaloids that can cause severe poisoning in humans and livestock who consume contaminated grain—a condition historically called ergotism, characterized by convulsions, gangrene, and hallucinations.
Some ergot compounds have pharmaceutical applications, including in migraine treatment and the synthesis of LSD.
Medieval outbreaks of ergot poisoning were sometimes called St. Anthony's fire.
Asexual reproductive bodies
- hyphaeFungal filamentous structures
- myceliumFungal filament network
- parasiticExploiting a host organism
- ryeHardy cereal crop
grain · infection · contamination · mycology · fungicide · cereal crops · wheat · barley
Involuntary muscular contractions
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- deliriumAcute mental disorientation
seizures · poisoning · epidemic · medieval · witch trials · mass hysteria · necrosis · burning
Hardy cereal crop
- grainCereal plant's harvest unit
- cerealProcessed grain for breakfast
- cropCultivated agricultural plants
- harvestGathering mature crops
contamination · field · farming · wheat · barley · infected · kernels · milling
Psychedelic hallucinogen
- precursorSomething that comes first
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- pharmacologyStudy of drug actions
- alkaloidNitrogenous plant compound
chemical · compound · extraction · derivative · psychoactive · vasoconstriction · serotonin · dopamine
Severe neurological head pain
- postpartum hemorrhageLife-threatening bleeding after delivery
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
- obstetricsChildbirth medicine branch
- midwiferyBirth attendance practice
childbirth · hemostasis · prophylactic · prolactin · blood vessel · headache · contractions · dosage
spores
Asexual reproductive bodies
- hyphaeFungal filamentous structures
- myceliumFungal filament network
- parasiticExploiting a host organism
rye · grain · infection · contamination · mycology · fungicide · cereal crops · wheat · barley · grass
convulsions
Involuntary muscular contractions
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
delirium · seizures · poisoning · epidemic · medieval · witch trials · mass hysteria · necrosis · burning · madness
rye
Hardy cereal crop
- grainCereal plant's harvest unit
- cerealProcessed grain for breakfast
- cropCultivated agricultural plants
harvest · contamination · field · farming · wheat · barley · infected · kernels · milling · flour
LSD
Psychedelic hallucinogen
- precursorSomething that comes first
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- pharmacologyStudy of drug actions
alkaloid · chemical · compound · extraction · derivative · psychoactive · vasoconstriction · serotonin · dopamine · agonist
migraine
Severe neurological head pain
- postpartum hemorrhageLife-threatening bleeding after delivery
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
- obstetricsChildbirth medicine branch
midwifery · childbirth · hemostasis · prophylactic · prolactin · blood vessel · headache · contractions · dosage · therapeutic
- ergot alkaloids
- fungimushroom, mushrooms, toadstool, toadstools, yeast
- alkaloid plantsbelladonna, coca plant, coffee plant, opium poppy, tobacco plant
- crop problemsblight, drought damage, crop disease, root rot, wilting
- fungal diseasescandidiasis, histoplasmosis, blight, powdery mildew, downy mildew
- fungal productsmushroom, mushrooms, yeast, mycelium, truffle