296 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FUNGI 



Relatively feAV of the antibiotics known to be produced meet the pre- 

 requisite of being nontoxic to man, but some of those which do are enor- 

 mously important. 



Ergonovine, one of the ergot alkaloids obtained from the sclerotia of 

 Claviceps purpurea, is a useful drug for which no synthetic substitute is 

 available. 



A number of fleshy fungi produce toxins, some of which are deadly to 

 man if consumed in sufficient quantity. The toxins vary in chemical 

 nature, in severity, and in the symptoms they produce. 



Pigments are assumed to serve a definite function in fungi, at least in 

 some instances. Some pigments are known to be antibiotics; others such 

 as carotene are provitamins; but in general the functions of the fungus 

 pigments remain unknown. 



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