Mitchella repens aka Partridgeberry

Mitchella repens, also known as partridge berry or squaw vine (no longer used), is a creeping, prostrate, evergreen herbaceous woody shrub that belongs to the Rubiaceae (madder) family. It is found naturally in forests, stream-banks, on rotten logs, and in bottomlands and other wet habitats throughout eastern and central North America. The plant produces delicate, light green to brown twigs and opposite, ovate to cordate, green leaves with a pale yellow midrib that remain green throughout the winter. In summer, twin white tubular flowers with four petals covered in fine hairs mature. These flowers give way to scarlet, edible but tasteless berries that ripen from mid-July to October. Partridgeberry is often used as a ground cover as its stems run along the ground in a vine-like fashion and can carpet an area. The plant has a medium flammability rating.