1.
[syn: ergot, Claviceps purpurea]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Claviceps purpurea
n 1: 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]