A ole bases on each side of the nodes. T Small, sharp-pointed stipules extend between peti- on their inner surfaces. Rar ing lobes that are 3-4 mm long and densely hairy from 9 to 14 mm in length and is topped by spread- form a gradually expanding corolla tube that ranges mon calyx for the pair of flowers. Four white but these commonly fuse together forming a com- are four scale-like at the base of each flower each other pedicel and exhibit various degrees of fusion with stem tips. The paired flowers share a common ers form in pairs at the ends of slightly upturned is often obscur above and below of are off-set by 90 degrees from the pair glossy ovate, and somewhat leathery; the upper surface is cm long leaves are opposite, evergreen, round to but sometimes from other nodes as well. The 1-2 fr roots. Branch stems arise either singly or in pairs, in older colony sections, stems bear adventitious stems are smooth, or sparsely hairy when young; stems on the for perennial that forms mat-like colonies of interlaced naturalists year-round. like beauty of partridge berry rewards attentive equently fr Partridge berry is a low-growing herbaceous lthough it is a small and creeping herb, the jewel- , with a whitish mid-vein. Successive pairs , especially in their lower r om nodes below a pr ed in older est floor , but this decussate arrangement . Near their gr , fully pr ely , cor evious year ollas of adjacent ostrate, stems. ypically egions. Ther owing tips, ’s fr , flow- uit, e

species in the , f virtues of partridge berry is intended. cal interest; no endorsement of alleged medicinal Ethnomedicinal use is noted here solely for histori- and easing of gastrointestinal conditions. medicinal properties, including calming of nerves logical conditions. Other sources assert additional and fruits to treat a variety of obstetric gyneco- American women consumed tea from the leaves as tasteless or American . wan, , and Japan, is similar to our North ( ( host of familiar tropical , including coffee bush ( native plants such as bluets ( , and is ther r notes the plant’s creeping stems and adventitious and naturalist fr John Mitchell (171 pals. Rar seeds, and capped by the persistent scale-like se- fr adjacent flowers coalesce to form a red berry-like like nectary sits atop the inferior side the tube. At base of corolla tube a ring- protrude and the stigmas are hidden in- tend beyond the lobes. In other flowers, the corolla tube and four strap-like stigmas ex- ers the pollen-bearing anthers are included within plant, a condition known as distyly lengths of stamens and styles vary from plant to alternate with and attached to the petals. Relative

Carapichea Coffea lowers also fuse together oots. uit, 7-10 mm in diameter

Although edible, partridge berries are described The genus name,

Mitchella Cephalanthus

), quinine ( ely

, white fr

, formerly , at best, mildly ar repens is classified in the madder family om Urbanna, V

1-1768), colonial era physician Mitchella undulata uits ar ), bedstraws (

efor

Mitchella Cinchona Cephaelis e r . Ther , containing up to eight e found.

elated to other V Houstonia ir e ar ginia. , commemorates ). The only other ), and ipecac

omatic. Native Galium

. In some flow- e four stamens Repens . Ovaries of , fr ), button- ), and a om T ir ginia de- ai-

, M P white-footed mice consume partridge berries. fruits add interest through multiple seasons. tive year-round and, although small, the flowers and land garden. The glossy evergreen leaves are attrac- Ruf and are retained through the winter spring. ers that have short styles. Fruits mature in the fall can germinate only on the stigmas of different flow- long styles; conversely thers only on the stigmas of different flowers with tors that permit pollen germination from long-an- nation, required for seed-set, is controlled by fac- mer taken in the spring or summer gation the favored option; softwood cuttings can be tion. However and moist stratified for 6 weeks to enhance germina- fall-collected seeds should be cleaned of fruit pulp inclusion in a terrarium. It can be grown from seed; subject for a shaded rock garden; it is also popular loving shrubs. Partridge berry makes an interesting acidic soils; it does well, for example, among acid- does best with some shade, even moisture, and mildly in May drier ridge tops. In V found in moist bottomlands as well somewhat

a

rtridge berry is an excellent plant for the wood-

fed gr itchella repens . Bumblebees pollinate the flowers. Cr . , and continue sporadically thr . I n t h e W i l d ouse, bobwhite quail, turkey I n t h e G a r d , ease of r is a woodland plant that can be ir ooting makes vegetative pr ginia, flowers begin to open , pollen fr . om short anthers ough the sum- , skunks, and

oss-polli- Mitchella opa- . . . W h e r e t o S e e Partridge berry is widespread in eastern North Partridge America, from southern Canada to Florida, and west to Minnesota and eastern Texas; additional populations are known from the mountains of southern Mexico and Berry Guatemala. It is found throughout Virginia.

Mitchella repens

Map source: http://vaplantatlas.org/ index.php?do=about:virginia_botanical_associates . . . C o n s e r v a t i o n A lthough partridge berry is both widespread and relatively abundant, individual populations may be threatened by collection of wild plants for horticultural purposes, encroachment by invasive exotic plants and habitat destruction.

Gardeners should not collect partridge berry in the wild and should be certain that all native plants purchased for home gardens are nurs- ery-propagated, not wild-collected. For a list of retail sources of nursery-propagated plants and responsibly collected seeds, visit www.vnps.org; 2012 Virginia

send an SASE to the Virginia Native Plant So- ear ciety, Blandy Experimental Farm, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2, Boyce, VA 22620; e-mail Wildflower [email protected]; or call 540-837-1600. To see and learn more about interesting spe- cies of plants native to Virginia, visit the VNPS of the Year Berry

website at www.vnps.org where you can also find ildflower of the Y

the chapter nearest you and learn of upcoming Partridge meetings and wildflower walks in your area. Mitchella repens

22620 irginia W

•• Text W. John Hayden •• A

•• Illustrations Nicky Staunton •• .vnps.org

ginia Native Plant Society

•• Layout Nancy Sorrells •• 00 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2

ir Blandy Experimental Farm 4 Boyce, V www

•• Photos Gary Fleming and Richard Moss •• Conserving Wild Flowers and Wild Places

V ginia Native Plant Society Vir 2012 V