sclerotium

1. The normally pseudoparenchymatous resting body of certain fungi, which can survive long periods of adverse conditions to produce either a mycelium or fruiting bodies. Sclerotia are important sources of inoculum for various root-rot diseases. The hard dark club-shaped structures seen in the ears of cereals and grasses affected with ergot (Claviceps purpurea) are sclerotia.

2. See Plasmodium.