Squawvine is a trailing but non-climbing shrub-like plant in the madder family that is distributed throughout eastern North America. It often behaves like groundcover, often hiding beneath leaf litter in deciduous woodlands.
This herb was widely used by Native American women for various purposes relating to childbirth and menstruation. Upon observing this, the early colonists of New England gave the plant its common name of “squawvine,” although the Mohawk knew it as Noon Kie Oo Nah Yeah. Because the fruit is a favorite food for the ruffed grouse, the plant is also known as Partridge berry.
