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Mitchella
repens L.
Standardized Common
Name: Partridgeberry
Other Common Names: Checkerberry, Squaw
Vine
Family: Rubiaceae
Taxonomy: Mitchella repens
is one of two species in its genus, and is endemic to northern North America.
The other species, M. undulata Sieb. & Zucc., is southeast Asian.
Description: Perennial herb,
woody at base with narrow creeping rhizomes. Stems prostrate, weak, producing
adventitious roots, branching, quadrangular or flattened. Leaves evergreen,
opposite, petiolate, with tiny stipules, broadly ovate, 5–20 mm long, leathery;
base broad and rounded-truncate to rounded or slightly cordate; apex obtuse;
upper surface glossy dark green, sometimes variegated with white, the lower
surface pale green. Inflorescences terminal, 2- or rarely 1-flowered, ovaries
of the 2 flowers fused. Calyx lobes 8 or fewer per pair of flowers, triangular,
irregular, interspersed with small irregular toothed appendages. Corolla white,
sometimes purple-tinged or rarely pink, tubular; tube 9–15 mm long, often with
4 vertical splits in the lower portion; lobes 4 (rarely 3–6), ovate, 3–4 mm
long, reflexed at time of flowering; inner surface pubescent. Flowers
heterostylous (stamens may be either much longer or much shorter than style).
Stamens 4, filaments partly fused to petals. Ovary inferior, 4-loculed, each
locule 1-seeded; fused ovaries of paired flowers develop into a single 8-seeded
fruit. Fruit a drupe, red or rarely white, 7–10 mm in diameter, fleshy, with
persistent calyx teeth, usually containing 8 pyrenes; flesh dry and tasteless.
Parts
in commerce:
Whole herb (stems with adventitious roots, leaves, and flowers or fruits)
Identification:
Stems
and leaves
- Stems slender,
weak, branching, barely pubescent or glabrous, the main stems prostrate
and thin but woody, often somewhat flattened, sometimes producing
adventitious roots
- Roots
originating singly or in small clusters, short, slender, branching,
yellowish brown
- Leaves
evergreen, leathery, opposite
- Leaves 5–20 mm
long, broadly ovate to nearly round, widest near the base
- Leaf base
rounded-truncate to rounded or slightly cordate
- Venation pinnate
- Upper leaf
surface dark green, glossy, sometimes with variegated pattern or whitish
over midrib and veins; lower surface pale green
- Taste slightly
bitter, astringent
Flowers
- Inflorescences
2-flowered, ovaries of flowers fused (rarely 1–4-flowered)
- Calyces of
flowers fused below (sometimes completely), cup-shaped with small
irregular teeth
- Corollas
tubular, 9–15 mm long, 4-lobed (rarely with 3–6 lobes each, or two
corollas entirely fused; lower portion of tube may have 4 inconspicuous
vertical slits)
- Corolla lobes
ovate, 3–4 mm long, curved backwards
- Corolla whitish,
rarely pinkish or purple-tinged
- Inner surface of
lobes and corolla pubescent
- Some plants have
a short style and 4 (3–6) long stamens protruding from corolla; others
have a protruding style and short stamens
- Filaments fused
to corolla tube below
- Stigma
4-branched
Fruits
- Fruit a drupe,
scarlet (rarely white), 7–10 mm in diameter, usually broader than long,
containing usually 8 irregularly shaped pyrenes
- Fruit bearing
persistent calyx teeth in two rings at apex (or one ring when calyces were
completely fused)
- Fruit flesh dry
and tasteless
Inflorescences
may vary in number of flowers, number of flower parts, or degree of fusion;
atypical flowers may appear otherwise normal or may be grossly irregular.
References:
Blaser JLeC. The morphology of the flower and
inflorescence of Mitchella repens. Amer J Bot. 1954;41:533–539.
Holm T. Rubiaceae: Anatomical studies of North
American representatives of Cephalanthus, Oldenlandia, Houstonia, Mitchella,
Diodia, and Galium. Bot Gaz. 1907;43:153–186.
Robbrecht E, Puff C, Igersheim A. The genera Mitchella
and Damnacanthus. Evidence for their close alliance; comments on the
campylotropy in the Rubiaceae and the circumscription of the Morindeae. Blumea.
1991;35:307–345.
Youngken HW. Text-Book of Pharmacognosy, 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: The
Blakiston Company; 1943:834–835.
Figure 48: Mitchella repens.
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