smut fungus; Microbotryum violaceum
A plant-pathogenic fungus, specifically Microbotryum violaceum, which causes smut disease. The term is primarily used in botanical and agricultural contexts.
Smut fungus is known to infect carnation flowers.
The black ears on this plant are caused by smut fungus.
Katakana spelling is standard for this organism name.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
From 黒 (black) + 穂 (ear of grain) + 菌 (fungus), describing the blackened appearance of infected plant ears.