Final answer:
LSD is synthesized from lysergic acid, which is derived from the ergot fungus, a member of the ascomycetes, not basidiomycetes. Basidiomycetes include mushroom-producing fungi, while LSD production involves a sequence of reactions starting from tryptophan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hallucinogen LSD is a product of ergot fungi, which is not a product of basidiomycetes, but instead belongs to a group of fungi known as ascomycetes. Specifically, LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is synthesized from lysergic acid, a compound derived from a rye fungus called Claviceps purpurea. This synthesis involves a sequence of chemical reactions starting with the alkylation of tryptophan to form dimethylallyl tryptophan (DMAT), which is an example of an electrophilic aromatic substitution.
The process by which LSD is produced is complex, and it involves both biological and chemical methods. Contrary to misconceptions, it is not sourced from the basidiomycetes, which are a different class of fungi including mushrooms like the edible meadow mushroom, Agricus campestris, and the toxic Amanita phalloides.