Wikijunior:Summer Flowers of Northern New England/Mitchella repens

Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens)
The flowers grow in pairs	Note the two "eyes" on the berry
Description: Partridge Berry is a vine that does not climb, but rather creeps along the ground. It is an evergreen, so if you venture into the woods when the snow is melting, you might see some greenery. Melting snow can form pools of water which cover the Partridge Berries. The Partridge Berry doesn't seem to mind though. The leaves grow in pairs on the vine, one on each side. The leaves are shiny with smooth edges. Most of the leaf is a very dark green, but it has light green veins that run through it. Partridge Berries make flowers in pairs along the length of the vine. The two flowers in each pair are joined to one another at their base. Each flower has four petals and is covered with hair. The berries have two little "eyes" on them, which leads some people to call it "Two-eyed Berry." You can eat these berries, but they are very bland, having almost no taste at all. But that doesn't stop birds and animals from eating them – they seem to love them! Quick Facts: The two flowers eventually fuse together to form one berry. The two eyes are from the two flowers.	The vine creeps along the ground