Smut.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: xxxSMUT!xxx
From: Bentley <bentl3y.hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 18:58:54 GMT

Ustilago maydis (DC) or Ustilago Zeae (Beckm), of the family Ustilaginaceae, also known as corn smut, is a mushroom-type fungus which infects corn. This often results in the plant having a twisted shape, and the fruiting bodies of the smut appear as black or dark purplish "galls" which replace some corn kernels in the ear of corn.

Smut is often mistakenly believed to be the same thing as ergot, which it is not. Ergot is poisonous, and smut does not appear to be. Some of the finer Mexican restaurants serve it, under the name "Huitlacoche"; The USDA , while spending considerable funds to try and eliminate this fungus, has even allowed some farms, on an experimental basis, to cultivate it (although is considered a disease by those who accidentally cultivate it).

Medicinally, smut has traditionally been used to ease all sorts of cramping, particularly cramping associated with non-striated muscle tissue (visceral muscle). It has also been used to speed and ease the pain of childbirth.

I hope you've all enjoyed this smutty post.

Bentley