Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Mitchella repens
Partridge-berry
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-herb, perennial

Roots: primary, adventitious, fibrous

Shoots: opposite leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; lanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: solitary

Flowers: perfect; 4 merous; complete, regular; white; epigynous ovary position

Fruit: berry

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Shade, rocky woods, swampy woods, woods bordering bogs, hummocks in swampy red maple woods; sandy banks, sphagnum areas.

ILPIN Notes: Rare in central counties. Fruit of this species used as food by terrestrial furbearers, especially red foxes, skunks, and raccoons. Plant in spring or fall; form-clumps. Flowers paired with ovary united. Evergreen. Fruit edible, but tasteless; used in terrariums; attractive berries. 1

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: upland game birds: yes; small non-game bird: yes; small mammals: yes
  • Cover Value: upland game birds: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 8
  • Chicago Area: 10

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