ERGfOT, 

 By the Eev. W. W. Spicer, M.A., F.E.M.S. 



[Bead \2th June, 1877.] 



In a paper on alien plants which I had the honour to read 

 before the Fellows of this Society at their last meeting, I took 

 occasion to mention that one of the imported grasses a Lolium 

 (known in England as Darnel), had an evil reputation, as it 

 was believed to be poisonous — but that this was a calumny on 

 the grass — the fact being, that the several species of Lolium 

 though not themselves poisonous, are apt beyond other fodder 

 grasses, to be infested by a very poisonous fungus, the well 

 known Ergot. Curiously enough within the last few days, 

 our Curator has placed in my hands specimens of a highly 

 ergotised Lolium, not however the Darnel, Lolium temulenttim, 

 but a much more valuable plant, the common Eye grass, Lolivm 

 perenne. The specimens are before you, and I thought it 

 might be of interest if I drew your attention to a danger 

 which, where it exists is generally in great abundance. Ergot 

 is a fungus, belonging to the genus Cordyceps, which, (like so 

 many of the order to which it belongs) is parasitical upon 

 other plants. Many of the species indeed attack the lower 

 animals, and probably some of those present have witnessed 

 its effects in what are called " vegetable caterpillars " where 

 the fungus grows from the head of the victim and completely 

 destroys it. One of the best known is Cordyceps rohertsii 

 peculiar to New Zealand ; but we have one at least in this 

 colony, Cordyce'ps gunnii. 



However, this is much too large a subject to enter upon 

 now. The particular species of Cordyceps before us infests 

 many of the grasses, more especially rye, maize and rye grass, 

 and is one of the most deadly and dangerous poisons in 

 existence. Its habit is (as may be seen in these specimens) for 

 the spores to fasten on the growing seed, whereby the 

 character of the latter is completely changed both structurally 

 and physiologically. Under the strange influence exercised 

 by the Ergot, the seed instead of growing into a healthy grain 

 becomes elongated, slightly curved and exceedingly hard, so 

 that it has the appearance of a black horn or spur growing 

 out of the centre of the glumes. The plant too, from being 

 one of the most nutritious of fodder grasses imbibes a 

 poisonous principle, of the deadliest nature. The first effect 

 in those who swallow it, is to produce a loss of appetite and 

 stupefaction. Dogs that have been experimented on, howl 

 frightfully until they are completely under its influence, and 

 then lie down and groan. In fowls the comb and crop are 

 said to turn black. It is unhappily no less notorious for the 



