Within the genus Ipomoea (and related genera: Argyreia, Stictocardia, Turbina), some species are known to be infected by an ascomycete related to Periglandula. The endophytic fungus produces ergot alkaloids which likely protect the seed, seedling, and mature plant from herbivory. It appears the fungal alkaloids can be transported by the plants to certain tissues (Beaulieu et al. 2013).