Mitchella repens L.
Partridgeberry, squaw vine
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.
Plants: 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: 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: 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.
Fruits: 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.
Habitats: Dry or moist woods, along stream banks and on sandy slopes.
Thanks to Hélène Boulianne for correctly identifying these, which were originally identified as the similar-appearing Gaultheria procumbens.
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Similar species. |
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.
Medical:
Online References:
6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9 cm) 
8/16/2020 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm) 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) 
6/27/2025 · Butler Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 5″ (12 × 12 cm) 
6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Broo, Hollis, New Hampshire 
6/24/2024 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm) 
7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 5 × 5″ (13 × 13 cm) 
4/27/2013 · Bemis Rd, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 6″ (16 × 16 cm) 
6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Broo, Hollis, New Hampshire 
5/10/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Cons, Hollis, New Hampshire 
6/7/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 7″ (23 × 18 cm) 
10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
6/15/2012 · Townsend State Forest, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 3″ (10 × 7.4 cm) 
7/4/2025 · Wilson’s Cove, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 13 × 9″ (34 × 22 cm) 
8/20/2009 · Hayes Woods Nature Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm) 
11/4/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
6/7/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.2 cm) 
4/23/2016 · Big Tree/Porcupine Trail, Beaver, Hollis, Massachusetts 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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 |
Mitchella repens description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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