Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is an extremely
potent psychedelic ergot alkaloid derived from the
fungus, Claviceps purpurea. LSD is one of the most
powerful hallucinogenic drugs known. It was invented
in 1938 by the Swiss chemist, Albert Hoffman, who
was interested in developing medicines from
compounds in ergot, a fungus that attacks rye.