Partridgeberry, Partridge Berry, Sqaw Vine, Eyeberry - Mitchella repens
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Mitchella repens - Partridgeberry, Partridge Berry, Sqaw Vine, Eyeberry.
Mitchella is a tiny genus of two species. One, Mitchella undulata, is a plant of forest understories in east Asia. The other one, which is presented here, is Mitchella repens, found in Central America and eastern North America. It is an evergreen; the red berries and green foliage of Partridgeberry form appealing mats that grace forest floors, even in winter. The creeping stems of the plant are the source of the species epithet "repens."
Mitchella repens is listed as Threatened in Iowa.
Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
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Distribution of Mitchella repens in the United States and Canada:
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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| | Site: Lula Lake, Walker County, GA Date: 2010-May-29 | Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | Partridgeberry blossoms grow in pairs. The two ovaries fuse to become a single red edible fruit. On the center berry you might be able to make out the marks where the two corollas were attached. Presumably this feature is the source of one of the common names - Eyeberry. | | 
| | Site: Lula Lake, Walker County, GA Date: 2010-May-29 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | Mitchella repens can occasionally be a dioecious plant - a single plant carrying either male or female flower, but not both. If this is one of the dioecious plants, then this is a photo of the male (staminate) plant, with the stamens clearly visible above the petals. However, Mitchella repens is unusual in that the plant may also have "perfect" flowers - those with both function male and female parts, but with the stamens longer than the style (as is likely shown here), and in other plants the style may be longer than the stamens. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Lula Lake, Walker County, GA Date: 2010-May-29 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60 | | In this photo of Partridgeberry, the stigmas are visible above the petals. This is either a dioecious female (pistillate) plant, or one of the long-styled, short-stamened plants. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Indian Boundary Recreation Area, Monroe County, TN Date: 2016-May-12 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson | | The flowers of Mitchella undulata are pubescent. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: GSMNP, Chestnut Top Trail, Blount County, TN Date: 2019-February-18 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson | | The ovaries of the paired flowers fuse to become a single red edible fruit. You can see the marks where the two corollas were attached on the berry in this photo. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
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References used for identification and information:
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