Hepatica (hepatica, liverleaf, or liverwort) is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, native to central and northern Europe, Asia and eastern North America. Some botanists include Hepatica within a wider interpretation of Anemone.

Description

Bisexual flowers with pink, purple, blue, or white sepals and three green bracts appear singly on hairy stems from late winter to spring. Butterflies, moths, bees, flies and beetles are known pollinators. The leaves are basal, leathery, and usually three-lobed, remaining over winter.

Taxonomy

Hepatica was described by the English botanist Philip Miller in 1754. It was proposed as a subgenus of Anemone in 1836, but later segregated into genus Hepatica.

Taxa

, Kew's Plants of the World Online (POWO) accepts 7 species and one hybrid in the genus Hepatica: • Hepatica acutiloba DC. • * Synonym: Anemone acutiloba (DC.) G.Lawson • * Synonym: Hepatica nobilis var. acuta (Pursh) Steyerm. • Hepatica americana (DC.) Ker Gawl. • * Synonym: Anemone americana (DC.) H.Hara • * Synonym: Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (Pursh) Steyerm. • Hepatica falconeri (Thomson) Steward • Hepatica henryi (Oliv.) Steward • * Synonym: Hepatica yamatutai Nakai • Hepatica maxima (Nakai) Nakai • Hepatica × media Simonk. • Hepatica nobilis Schreb. • * Synonym: Anemone hepatica L. • Hepatica transsilvanica Fuss • * Synonym: Anemone transsilvanica (Fuss) Heuff. One infraspecific taxon is also recognized by POWO: Hepatica can be divided into two series with respect to leaf edge:

Series Triloba

The leaves of the series Triloba Ulbr. Tamura: are three-lobed with a smooth leaf edge.

Series Angulosa

The leaves of series Angulosa (Ulbr.) Tamura are three- to five-lobed with a crenate leaf edge.

Etymology

The word hepatica derives from the Greek ἡπατικός, from 'liver', because its three-lobed leaf was thought to resemble the human liver.

Distribution

Plants of genus Hepatica are native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Plants of the genus have been introduced to Belgium.

Cultivation

Hepatica cultivation has been popular in Japan since the 18th century (mid-Edo period), where flowers with doubled petals and a range of colour patterns have been developed. Noted for its 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 are required; Hepatica is tolerant of winter snow cover, but less so of dry frost. Propagation is done by seeds or by dividing vigorous clumps in spring. However, seedlings take several years to reach bloom size, and divided plants are slow to thicken.

Uses

Hepatica was once used as a medicinal herb. Owing to the doctrine of signatures, the plant was once thought to be an effective treatment for liver disorders. Although poisonous in large doses, the leaves and flowers may be used as an astringent, as a demulcent for slow-healing injuries, and as a diuretic.