Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry)

FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Mitchella repens L.

Partridgeberry, squaw vine

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Gentianales	Gentians, coffee, gardenias, frangipani, many others
Family	Rubiaceae	Coffee, madder, and bedstraw family
Genus	Mitchella	For Dr. John Mitchell, colonial Virginian physician and botanist (1711-68)
Species	repens	Having creeping and rooting stems

About plant names...

Partridgeberry is a common North American native. The genus, Mitchella, was assigned by Linnaeus himself to honor Dr. John Mitchell, the physician who developed a treatment for yellow fever.

Identification: This very low-lying, rather delicate vine is rarely more than 2″ (5 cm) in height and up to 1′ (30 cm) long. The stems can form new plants, leading to larger colonies. Leaves are opposite and oval or heart-shaped, about ½″ (1.3 cm) long, with a prominent light green central vein. Each leaf is dark and shiny on top, pale and yellowish below. Flowers are tubular, with four sharp-tipped petals, white or slightly pink, ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) long and ⅜″ (9.5 mm) in diameter. They appear from May to July. One red, misshapen berry ¼-½″ (6.3-12 mm) in diameter—actually two fused berries—grows for each pair of flowers. The berries and foliage of this evergreen last throughout the winter. Each berry contains 8 seeds.

Thanks to Hélène Boulianne for correctly identifying these, which were originally identified as the similar-appearing Gaultheria procumbens.

6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9 cm)

8/16/2020 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Here is a comparison of the two:

	*Gaultheria procumbens*	You are here Mitchella repens
Common Name	creeping wintergreen	partridgeberry
Plant	Low, spreading plant, typically 4-6″ (10-15 cm) tall, sometimes as low as 1″ (2.5 cm).	Low-lying *vine* is rarely more than 2″ (5 cm) in height and up to 1′ (30 cm) long.
Flowers	Flowers are about ¼″ (6.3 mm) long, white, *urn-shaped*, resembling blueberry flowers.	*Tubular, with four sharp-tipped petals*, white or slightly pink, ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) long and ⅜″ (9.5 mm) in diameter. They appear from May to July.
Leaves	Oval, evergreen, dark in color, ¾-1¾″ (2-5 cm) long and ⅜-¾″ (1-2 cm) across. When broken, the leaves *smell of wintergreen*.	Opposite and oval or heart-shaped, about ½″ (1.3 cm) long, with a *prominent light green central vein*. Each leaf is dark and shiny on top, pale and yellowish below.
Fruit	Fruits are bright red, *round*, ¼-½″ (6.3-12 mm) in diameter, and hard (like an apple).	One red, *misshapen* berry ¼-½″ (6.3-12 mm) in diameter—actually two fused berries—grows for each pair of flowers.
Range/ Zones
Type	Wild	Wild

Edibility: Some indigenous Americans made a tea from the leaves. The berries are edible but nearly tasteless, with a barely perceptible hint of wintergreen and a touch of cranberry.

Online References:

Www.carolinanature.com

Missouriplants.com

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site