mitchella repens - partridgeberry

This is a trailing, evergreen herb with stems that are 4 to 12 inches long.  The flowers are 1/2" to 5/8" long.  The corolla is funnel-shaped with 4 spreading lobes, fringed on the inside.  The leaves are 1/2" to 3/4" long, opposite, roundish, shiny, and green with white veins.  The fruit is red, rarely white, and berry-like.

This plant can be used as a groundcover under acid-loving shrubs and in terraria.  The fruits do not seem to be useful to wildlife.  Native American women drank a tea made from the leaves as an aid in childbirth.

Mitchella repens is found in dry to moist woods.  It flowers in June to July.