Claviceps purpurea

Morphological Features:

Carpophore emerging from an elongated or cylindrical sclerotium, smooth or weakly striated, purple in color, whose size varies depending on the host plant it parasitizes. Multiple fruiting bodies may develop from a single sclerotium.

Fruiting bodies composed of a long stipe, which can easily exceed 10 mm in length, dark brown with reddish or lilac tints, at the apex of which sits a small head, sometimes barely visible macroscopically, measuring only a few millimeters, yellowish-ochre in color, though marked by dots that constitute the ostioles.

Flesh imperceptible.

Habitat:

Grows as an obligate parasite on the stems of various grasses, not only rye, both in spring and summer; it is highly damaging.

Observations:

This fungus produces toxic and even hallucinogenic compounds. Historically, it is believed to be responsible for the events that occurred in Salem, where a number of women were burned at the stake accused of witchcraft after consuming rye bread infected with Claviceps purpurea, as well as for the famous ergotism epidemic that ravaged Europe during the Middle Ages. In the confusions section, we will highlight the sclerotia of Claviceps microcephala, which develops on the seeds of various herbaceous plants.