MITCHELLA REPENS. 



CREEPING MITCHELLA. PARTRIDGE-BERRY. CHEQUER-BERRY. 



Tetrandria Monogynia, Linn. Rubiacex, Juss. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Floxvers by pairs upon the same germ, superior. Calix 4-toothed. Corolla funnel- 

 form, tube cylindric. Limb 4-partcd, spreading, villous on the inner side. 

 Stamina 4, scarcely exserted. Stigma 4-c\eh. Berry by the union of two germs, 

 didymous, 4-seeded. 



An humble but beautiful evergreen plant. Roots perennial. Stems 

 fruticose, creeping, tortuous. Leaves very numerous, orbicular, vary- 

 ing in size from a quarter to half an inch in diameter — situated by 

 pairs on petioles as long as their diameter. Petioles opposite. Flowers 

 in pairs, terminal, white, pubescent within. Berry, or enlarged calix, 

 of a bright scarlet. Grows in great abundance where found, cover- 

 ing several feet of ground like a mat. with its evergreen verdure. 

 On rocks and in shady woods of rich soil — delighting in shade, and 

 seldom found where the sun penetrates. Flowers in May and June. 



VOL. III. 19 



