Mitchella repens L.

Partridge Berry; Squawberry; Checker Berry

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Partridge Berry is a native perennial evergreen vine in the Madder family (Rubiaceae). It occurs state wide in Alabama. Partridge Berry grows in mesic hardwood forest, pine forests, and on roadside banks. It has creeping stems that root at the nodes. The opposite leaves are dark green and ovate (rounded) or cordate (heart shaped) in shade with entire margins. Partridge Berry is a distylous species. Some plants have long pistils and short stamens (pin flowers), while other plants have short pistils and long stamens (thrum flowers). Only pollen from pin flowers will pollinate thrum flowers and only pollen from thrum flowers will pollinate pin flowers. This promotes outcrossing and genetic diversity in the plants. The flowers are white tinged in pink and highly fragrant. The flowers are produced in pairs and their ovaries fuse resulting in one fruit per pair of flowers. If you look at the end of a Partridge Berry fruit away from the stalk you will see two “dimples”. The fruit are edible but rather tasteless. They are consumed by a number of bird and mammal species. Partridge Berry is often available in the nursery trade. It makes an excellent low ground cover and is often used in rock gardens and terrariums. Plants can also be grown from seed, rooted from cuttings, or large plants can be divided with each rooted segment planted separately. --A. Diamond

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Native FACU+ (NWPL)

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