Hepatica
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Hepatica acutiloba
Hepatica americana
Hepatica nobilis
Hepatica transsilvanica
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Hepatica is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. A native of central and northern Europe, Asia and northeastern North America, Hepatica is sometimes called liverleaf or "liverwort". It should not be confused with true liverwort, which are confusingly called "hepaticae" on occasion. A few botanists include Hepatica within a wider interpretation of Anemone, as Anemone hepatica.
Between four to ten species of Hepatica are recognised, with some of the taxa more often treated as varieties:
- H. nobilis var. hepatica - European hepatica - Alps north to Scandinavia
- H. transsilvanica - Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania
- H. acutiloba - Sharplobe hepatica - North America
- H. americana - Roundlobe hepatica - North America
Noted for their tolerance of alkaline limestone-derived soils, Hepatica may grow in a wide range of conditions; it can be found either in deeply shaded deciduous (especially beech) woodland and scrub or grassland in full sun. Hepatica will also grow in both sandy and clay-rich substrates, being associated with limestone. Moist soil and winter snowfall is a requirement; Hepatica is tolerant of winter snow cover, but less so of dry frost.
Hepatica reaches a height of 10 cm and produces hermaphroditic flowers from February to May. The leaves are basal and dark leathery green, each with three lobes. The flowers may be white, bluish purple or pink; they are supported singly on hairy, largely leafless stems. Butterflies, moths, bees, flies and beetles are known to act as pollinators for Hepatica.
Named from its leaves, which like the human liver have three lobes (from the Greek hepar), Hepatica was once used as a medicinal herb. Owing to the doctrine of signatures, the plant was thought an effective treatment for liver disorders. Although poisonous in large doses, the leaves and flowers may be used as an astringent, demulcent for slow-healing injuries and as a diuretic.