Claviceps purpurea fungal sclerotia growing on barley Historically, eating grain products, particularly rye, contaminated with the fungus Claviceps purpurea was the cause of<unk> . The toxic ergoline derivatives are found in ergot-based drugs (such as methylergometrine, ergotamine or, previously, ergotoxine). The deleterious side effects occur either under high dose or when moderate doses interact with potentiators such as erythromycin. The alkaloids can pass through lactation from mother to child, causing<unk>  in infants. Identification of agent Ergot in barley Dark-purple or black grain kernels, known as ergot bodies, can be identifiable in the heads of cereal or grass just before harvest. In most plants the ergot bodies are larger than normal grain kernels, but can be smaller if the grain is a type of wheat.
Ergotism
Dyssomnia
Aspermia
Orthosomnia
Somnophilia
Amnesia
Mania
Hypersomnia