gotta piccem

The GOT3A3  P2ICCEM Mnemonic

Late-Onset (Severe) Toxic Mushrooms ("GOTTtAA")

These mushrooms have delayed symptoms (>6 hours) and are associated with significant toxicity:

G – Gyromitrin (Gyromitra esculenta)
False morels; inhibits GABA, leading to seizures. While this is classically taught, newer data suggests its extremely rare, GI effects, with or without hepatoxicity or minor neurologic symptoms predominate.
Game notes: –3 points if paired with morels (easy mix-up) –1 point if cooked (ALS risk!) +7 points if you have the antidote (B6!)

O – Orellanine (Cortinarius spp.)
Causes kidney failure; famously poisoned The Horse Whisperer author.
Game notes: Very late onset after ingestion = More toxicity later = More points scored the longer in play.

T – Tricholoma equestre (Man on Horseback)
Large or repeated meals lead to muscle breakdown (from an unknown toxin). This causes rhabdomyolysis and even heart muscle damage that can be fatal.
Game notes: Poisonings have occurred after multiple meals of this mushroom, not a single ingestion—players gain more points the more times this mushroom is “picked.”

T – Tender nesting polypore (Hapalopilus rutilans)
Causes late nausea, vomiting, hallucination, and purple urine 6-12 hours after ingestion.
Game notes: Nothing special, a very rare poisoning so worth +4 when you find it!

T – Trogia venenata (Little White Mushroom)
A delicate white-pink mushroom from Yunnan, China, responsible for “sudden unexplained death” outbreaks. Its unique toxins trigger profound hypoglycemia and fatal arrhythmias, often in healthy adults with little or no warning.
Game notes: Another rarity with very severe consequences. +5 for this card when found. 

A – Amatoxin (Amanita phalloides, Galerina spp.)
Nausea 6 hours after ingestion followed by liver and sometimes kidney failure; the most lethal mushroom toxicity.
Game notes: Because these cause delayed toxicity they don't give you points until the NEXT round.

A – Acromelic Acid (Clitocybe acromelalga, C. amoenolens)
Acromelic Acid is found in Japan and France. Days after ingestion blood vessels dilated and hands become inflamed and painful (erythromelalgia) from Acromelic acid. It can be treated with IV nicotinic acid!
Game notes: Grab the antidote nicotinic acid to boost points.

Early Onset Nausea, Late Toxicity Mushrooms ("A²P²")

These may present early but still cause significant toxicity.

A² – Allenic norleucine (Amanita smithiana, proxima, abrupta, hongo’s false death cap)
Amanita smithiana is found in the Pacific Northwest; these cause early GI symptoms followed by kidney failure.
Game notes: A point bonus up front, more for collecting all in the class. Once you get 3 there is a delayed point bonus to represent their "late" toxicity.

P² – Paxillus spp.
Can cause hemolytic anemia and multi-organ injury.
Game notes: Poisonings have occurred after multiple meals of this mushroom, not a single ingestion—players gain more points the more times this mushroom is “picked.”

Early-Onset Nausea Mushrooms ("PICCEM")

P – Psilocybin (Psilocybe spp.)
Hallucinogenic, similar to LSD, typically low toxicity but may cause hyperthermia or seizures. Symptoms appear within 1–2 hours and are usually self-limited. Harm often occurs when users become intoxicated and accidentally cause physical trauma such as walking into traffic.
Game notes: This is a fun one—collect the most by the end of the game and get +10 points. Since psilocybin use is associated with increased gratitude (valuing what you have), you can expend two psilocybin cards already in play to double the value of your next card.

I – Ibotenic Acid & Muscimol (Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina)
Ibotenic acid is a stimulant and its metabolite muscimol is a sedative. This acts like a “mushroom speedball,” causing both stimulant and sedative effects.
Game notes: Collect 1 for +7 points, but pick up more than that and you’ll start losing points, as too many land people in intensive care.

C – Coprine (Coprinus spp., Inky Caps)
Induces disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol. There are actually many species implicated here including Verpa bohemica (early morel), the feckled dapperling (Lepiota aspera), and Boletus luridus (luride bolete).
Game notes: These don't do much up front, but when combined with alcohol they are a doozy. Collect with the Alcohol modifier for more points!

C – Cholinergics (muscarine containing, Clitocybe, Inocybe spp.)
Cholinergic crisis (SLUDGE symptoms), similar to nerve agents.
Game notes: You get more points as you collect more in the toxin group, but the biggest amplifier is grabbing the antidote, atropine! +2 for each mushroom with atropine!

E – Emetic Mushrooms
“Emetic” or “Gastroenteric” mushrooms are a label for hundreds of mushrooms that can cause isolated gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). They contain a variety of unknown or poorly characterized toxins that irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Some like the Jack O' Lantern or the false parasol have identified toxins (illudin and molybdyiphyllin respectively), and most we have no clear idea. They generally cause self-limited vomiting and diarrhea.
Game notes: These things are everywhere, and they are a common cause of poisoning. This is the most common card in the game—collect 12 oz before anyone else to get the most points!

M – Morchella (Morels)
While an edible delicacy, they must be thoroughly cooked.  Recently multiple deaths have been linked to eating morels, and the exact mechanism of toxicity is unclear but they result in incredibly fast GI effects.
Game notes: –3 if you don’t have the pan or fire. If you get one, it is at least +2, but they really need to be thoroughly cooked—get both for the maximum points!