Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Dogwood Family (Cornaceae)

Habitat:

This plant creeps along the forest floor with its leaves and flowers reaching a height of 6 inches.

Leaves:

Whorled in groups of 4 to 6, evergreen, edges smooth. Reddish-purple in late fall and winter.

Flowers:

White bracts that look like petals with a cluster of tiny, yellow-green flowers in the center.

Fruit:

Bright red, clustered berries.

Helpful Tips:

This plant is in flower when the tiny greenish flowers open. It is native to Maine, with its range spanning from Greenland to New Jersey and west to California and Alaska. For more information, see Audubon Wildflower or Flora of Maine.