Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Ergot

We saw this Ergot fungus on Wheat that was growing in the wild at Beaverdam Flats park. "Ergot infects many cereals and grasses; these include (in order of decreasing susceptibility), rye, triticale, wheat and barley. Oats are rarely affected..... The presence of ergot in wheat and barley in Alberta has been strongly correlated with soils that are low in copper, or with management practices that cause a copper deficiency in cereals..... Ergot bodies are HIGHLY POISONOUS. Alkaloids in ergot are extremely toxic to humans and livestock. Ergot alkaloids have been detected in flour and cereals intended for human as well as animal feeds." From www1.agric.gov.ab.ca .

Thought I might as well add this to my Flickr photostream. I have just created the mosaic to send to the friends who spent Friday botanizing and searching for fungi on Rod Handfield's property, SW of Calgary, near Millarville. I have so many other fungi photos from that day (many that didn't come out - had such a problem with getting any focus and so many photos were blown out), and it is going to take ages to go through them. I knew the ID for some of these, but I have now been given the ID for all but one image - thanks so much, Karel! Photo 1 is a Slime Mold Photo 2 is Violet Toothed Polypore (Trichaptum fuscoviolaceum) Photo 3 is Cystoderma cinnabarinum Photo 4 is Eyelash fungi, Scutellinia scutellata Photo 5 is Russula emetica (The Sickener) Photo 7 is Cystoderma cinnabarinum Photo 8 is a Saddle Fungus, Helvella sp. Photo 9 is Ergot fungus (which can even cause death). No "need" to comment, especially as I will eventually add the individual photos to my photostream.

My camera focused on the grass itself rather than on the dark Ergot fungus growing on it, unfortunately. This macro shot still gives you an idea of what this strange fungus looks like. Photographed on 17 August 2012, when a group of us spent a great day botanizing the forest at Rod Handfield's, SW of Calgary and W of Millarville. Some of us have been to the Handfield's the last few years, so we always hope to find new things there that we can add to the long list of what exists on their land. "Ergotism is the name for sometimes severe pathological syndromes affecting humans or other animals that have ingested plant material containing ergot alkaloid, such as ergot-contaminated grains. The Hospital Brothers of St. Anthony (monks) specialized in treating ergotism victims with balms containing tranquilizing and circulation-stimulating plant extracts. The common name for ergotism is "St. Anthony's Fire", in reference to monks who cared for victims as well as symptoms, such as severe burning sensations in the limbs. These are caused by effects of ergot alkaloids on the vascular system due to vasoconstriction of blood vessels, sometimes leading to gangrene and loss of limbs due to severely restricted blood circulation. The neurotropic activities of the ergot alkaloids may also cause hallucinations and attendant irrational behaviour, convulsions, and even death. Other symptoms include strong uterine contractions, nausea, seizures, and unconsciousness. Since the Middle Ages, controlled doses of ergot were used to induce abortions and to stop maternal bleeding after childbirth.... Human poisoning due to the consumption of rye bread made from ergot-infected grain was common in Europe in the Middle Ages." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergot en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claviceps_purpurea