Spiderwort blooms are quite attractive with the contrast of the yellow stamens and bright purple petals. Alas, they are only open in the morning and close by the afternoon.
Growth habit of the spiderwort plant shows the long parallel-veined leaves almost folded in half which is supposed to look somewhat like spider legs for which it is named. Personally, I don’t see it.
Partridgeberry is found along some of the trails and in open areas of the woods. The leaves are evergreen and can be found under the leaf litter all throughout the year. The new growth of opposite leaves are a lighter green color than the established leaves. Partridgeberry, Mitchella repens, is also known as Squaw Vine because it was used by Native Americans for female reproductive problems.
Twin flowers of partridgeberry are hairy in appearance, a characteristic that is helpful in identification.
Partridgeberry also grows among the Tree Club Moss, Lycopodium obscurum, also called Ground Pine as it looks like a miniature pine tree only about 10 inches tall. The tree club moss spreads via underground runners and so may also be called Running Pines.
