Partridgeberry

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) sometimes called "Squaw vine" is a small evergreen vine often found at the base of oak trees. The tiny white flowers produce an equally tiny red berry. The plant is said to hasten childbirth so American Indian women used it to hasten labor. Makes you wonder how they ever found that one out! The golden colored thingees on the flowers are very tiny what appear to be mites as they were actively scurrying around among the tiny hairs on the flowers. Wonder if they are some kind of floral flea ;o)