ergots
Rye fungus growths
Ergots are dark, elongated fungal growths that replace the grains of cereals and grasses, particularly rye.
The fungus produces alkaloids that can cause ergotism—a serious condition involving convulsions, hallucinations, and gangrene—when contaminated grain is consumed.
These same alkaloids became the basis for important pharmaceutical compounds, including early migraine treatments and the precursor to LSD.
The miller inspected the rye for ergots before grinding.
Hardy cereal crop
- cerealProcessed grain for breakfast
- wheatCereal crop for flour
- barleyGrain for malt
- harvestGathering mature crops
infected · contaminated · flour · bread · milling · threshing · crop · agricultural
Alkaloid treating severe headaches
- lysergicOf an ergot alkaloid
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
pharmacology · psychoactive · neurotransmitter · synthesis · derivatives · compounds · extraction · potency
Asexual reproductive bodies
- hyphaeFungal filamentous structures
- myceliumFungal filament network
- parasiticExploiting a host organism
- infectedInvaded by pathogens
kernel · overwintering · germination · fruiting · stroma · host · infestation · contamination
Involving involuntary muscle contractions
- gangrenousAffected by tissue death
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- burningCombustion in progress
- necrosisLocalized cell death
limb · medieval · epidemic · outbreak · toxicity · contaminated · symptoms · delirium
Countering severe head pain
- prolactinMilk-production hormone
- postpartumAfter childbirth period
- hemorrhageProfuse discharge of blood
- obstetricsChildbirth medicine branch
midwifery · childbirth · therapeutic · prescription · dosage · treatment · pharmaceutical
rye
Hardy cereal crop
harvest · infected · contaminated · flour · bread · milling · threshing · crop · agricultural · field
ergotamine
Alkaloid treating severe headaches
- lysergicOf an ergot alkaloid
- vasoconstrictionArterial walls contracting inward
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
serotonin · pharmacology · psychoactive · neurotransmitter · synthesis · derivatives · compounds · extraction · potency
spores
Asexual reproductive bodies
- hyphaeFungal filamentous structures
- myceliumFungal filament network
- parasiticExploiting a host organism
infected · kernel · overwintering · germination · fruiting · stroma · host · infestation · contamination · blackened
convulsive
Involving involuntary muscle contractions
- gangrenousAffected by tissue death
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- burningCombustion in progress
necrosis · limb · medieval · epidemic · outbreak · toxicity · contaminated · symptoms · delirium · spasms
antimigraine
Countering severe head pain
- prolactinMilk-production hormone
- postpartumAfter childbirth period
- hemorrhageProfuse discharge of blood
obstetrics · midwifery · childbirth · therapeutic · prescription · dosage · treatment · pharmaceutical