Native American Herbal, Plant Knowledge

PARTRIDGE BERRY: Names, Info

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Partridgeberry (squawvine) is Noon

kie oo nah yeah in Mohawk. I've been

unable to find any other Indian names

for it, although it was apparently widely

used as a womens' medicine among

eastern tribes. But the vine doeesn't

grow around here.

In spring -- April to June -- the evergreen vine flowers with these fragrant white

trumpet-shaped 4-petaled flowers. The vine grows about 6 to 12" high, creeping through moss

around old tree stumps. The leaves are thick, very shiny, heart-shaped in opposite pairs. In the

fall, berries form and become bright scarlet. Scarlet frunits remain on the vine all winter if not

eaten by birds and deer.

The berries are tasteless but occasionally were

useful as emergency food. The scientific name of

this plant is Mitchella repens. Where it is used to

promote easy childbirth, a tea of the leaves is taken

only during the last few weeks. It should be noted

that one of the Iroquois medical uses for this vine

was as an abortifacient.

Multi-tribal uses of partridgeberry vine from the AGIS Medical Plants of native

Americans database

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Partridgeberry ID photos

http://www.kstrom.net/isk/food/parttrib.html (1 of 2) [5/17/2004 11:51:18 AM]