claviceps purpurea produces a long , dark <u>e</u><u>r</u><u>g</u><u>o</u><u>t</u><u>i</u><u>s</u><u>m</u><u> </u>spur containing adormant form of the fungus
This honeydew contains millions of asexual spores (conidia) which are dispersed to other florets by insects or rain. Later, the Sphacelia segetum convert into a hard dry Sclerotic clavus inside the husk of the floret. At this stage, alkaloids and lipids (e.g. ricinoleic acid) accumulate in the Sclerotium.