Prehistoric dinosaurs apparently munched on an ancient fungus whose psychedelic properties made them high.

This was proven by a 100 million year-old amber fossil of an ancient grass, the oldest grass specimen found to date. This evidence was uncovered in a mine in Myanmar by paleontologist Joerg Wunderlich.

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This grass was apparently covered by a fungus similar to ergot, which is poisonous but also has mind altering effects on animals that feed on it.

Ergot possesses over 1,000 compounds. It can be used for medicinal purposes but is also often misused, causing tragic events in human history such as thousands of deaths in the Middle Ages. It's even been blamed for the Salem witch trials in the U.S.

Ergot is also used to speed-up labor and induce abortion. It's also been used used along with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), which is an illegal recreational drug.

The fungus found in the ancient grass specimen has long been extinct and was named Palaeoclaviceps parasiticus. This particular fossil discovery suggests the fungus on the grass was devoured by dinosaurs during prehistoric times.

The fossil indicates the grass existed some 100 million years ago during the mid \-Cretaceous Period where dinosaurs roamed and conifers covered the land. This is also the time when flowering plants were beginning to evolve.

These primitive grasses evolved along with dinosaurs from evidence found on dinosaur droppings and in pieces of amber that strongly suggest psychedelic grasses existed during the Cretaceous period.

Dinosaurs such as the large sauropods, the largest among the plant eating reptiles, have feasted on the fungus they apparently found appetizing. This may have caused hallucinations and convulsions and even delirium and gangrene in other animals.

Researchers are still finding out the effects of the fungus on these ancient animals. According to George Poinar, Jr. of Oregon State University's College of Science, this is a pivotal discovery since it helps scientists determine the timeline of grass evolution, which is the basis of human food crops like corn, rice and wheat.

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