Partridge Berry - Mitchella repens

These low evergreen plants form large mats that cover large areas of the forest floor. They have shiny, green leaves and bright red berries that have two dimples. Each partridge berry has two dimples because each berry grows from two flowers...Both flowers must be pollinated in order to develop a single red berry. So, each berry is the result of the fusion of ovaries from the pair of pollinated flowers. This results in each berry having two bright red spots on its surface. These berries are edible, but pretty flavorless. They are high in vitamin C, anthocyanins, and antioxidants. It's fun to search for them as a snack while hiking, but not very filling!