noun
ergot fungus
A fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that infects rye and other cereals, producing alkaloids used in medicine and historically associated with ergotism.
ライ麦に麦角菌が寄生すると、収穫量が減る。
When ergot fungus infects rye, the yield decreases.
麦角菌から抽出されたアルカロイドは、医薬品として使われる。
Alkaloids extracted from ergot fungus are used as pharmaceuticals.
Compound of 麦角 (bakkaku, 'ergot') + 菌 (kin, 'fungus'). 麦角 itself is from 麦 (mugi, 'wheat') + 角 (kaku, 'horn'), referring to the horn-like sclerotia of the fungus.