Corn smut (Ustilago zeae)

The corn smut is a fungus that grows very little in the cornfields. The designation of blight is due to the look of the corn when it is installed, it being completely black, as if burned. In the breeding season as a kind of white bags that are usually found at the base of the ear or on the stem, are inside the spores, black and foul smelling. When you open the bag that contains them spread throughout the plant, giving the impression of being burned. It breeds in the cornfields of the entire Iberian Peninsula.

FLOWERING

Blight of corn is a fungus and therefore has no flowers. The vegetative part of this plant is a strand that is inserted into corn, developed within it. The basidia arise from spores that are the blight, and produce basidiospores, they re-develop in the same species that have infested above, without affecting nearby plants. Are collected spores that develop on par with the corn on which they are located. Also collected in some areas pouches that form at the base of the ear and the stem.

APPLICATIONS

Spores are the most active part of this plant, are composed of two substances, alkaloids, and ustilagotoxina-ustilagenina among many. Not recommended to use as a home remedy, as it has abortifacient properties that can be very dangerous if not supervise a physician. In North America enjoys great reputation and is widely used for its hemostatic properties and to facilitate childbirth, it is quite active and less toxic than other plants used for the same purpose. Its use is being implemented with increasing strength in pharmacology, one of the most widely used medicinal plants from about mid-century. Was introduced in Europe much later and has been less used, is replaced by other plants of the same properties.

ADMINISTRATION

It can be dangerous, not because of their toxicity, but because its effects are strong enough to induce an abortion. For this reason it is strongly discouraged to use it as a home remedy, must be handled only by experts in pharmacology. In Central America also used the bags that appear in the ear of corn when they are not quite done yet and are cool, are well known as a tasty sweet, cooked in different ways.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Auriculariaceas
HABITAT: In the cornfields
FLOWERING: When the corn is developed
PART USED: Mass esporífera
CASTILIAN: Carbón del maíz
CATALAN: Carbó del blat de moro

USES

Fort Abortifacient, Hemostatic Moderate, Mild oxytocic.