ergot

noun

1. a plant disease caused by the ergot fungus

   noun.state

   Source: WordNet 3.0

2. 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

   noun.plant

   Synonyms claviceps purpurea

   Source: WordNet 3.0

3. 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, <i>Claviceps purpurea</i>.

   noun

   Source: webster1913