Partridge berry is an attractive creeping herb, evergreen and often somewhat woody, that is native to northern regions of North America. It is one of two species in its genus; the other is Southeast Asian. Flowers of these species exhibit two interesting features. They are usually borne in pairs, with the ovaries of each pair fused and developing into a single red berrylike fruit, and they often exhibit heterostyly: some flowers have long stamens and a short style, while others have short stamens and a long style. In an individual plant that is genetically capable of self-fertilization, this trait promotes cross-pollination by keeping the anthers and stigma of a single flower physically separated. Teas made from the leaves and fruits, which are edible but not fleshy or tasty enough to be worth eating, have long been used in Native American herbal medicine for gynecological concerns, especially for menstrual difficulties and to prepare for childbirth, and are still used by modern herbalists for the same purposes. Partridge berry has also been traditionally used as a diuretic, a tonic, and an astringent for diarrhea, and as a wash or salve for rashes and sore nipples. It appears that no modern scientific studies of this plant?s chemistry or bioactivity have been conducted.

Selected References

Blaser, J. LeC. 1954. The morphology of the flower and inflorescence of Mitchella repens. Amer. J. Bot. 41:533-539.

Holm, T. 1907. Rubiaceae: Anatomical studies of North American representatives of Cephalanthus, Oldenlandia, Houstonia, Mitchella, Diodia, and Galium. Bot. Gaz. 43:153-186.

Robbrecht, E., C. Puff, and A. Igersheim. 1991. The genera Mitchella and Damnacanthus. Evidence for their close alliance; comments on the campylotropy in the Rubiaceae and the circumscription of the Morindeae. Blumea 35:307-345.

Yokoyama, J., T. Fukuda, and H. Tsukaya. 2003. Morphological and molecular variation in Mitchella undulata, with special reference to the systematic treatment of the dwarf form from Yakushima. J. Pl. Res. 116:309-315.