hepatica

[hi-pat-i-kuh]

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Hepatica, of the buttercup family, having heart-shaped leaves and delicate purplish, pink, or white flowers.

hepatica

/ hɪˈpætɪkə /

noun

1. any ranunculaceous woodland plant of the N temperate genus Hepatica, having three-lobed leaves and white, mauve, or pink flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of hepatica¹

1540–50; < Medieval Latin: liverwort, noun use of feminine of Latin hēpaticus hepatic

Word History and Origins

Origin of hepatica¹

C16: from Medieval Latin: liverwort, from Latin hēpaticus of the liver

Example Sentences

“There are buds on the hepaticas—just starting,” she said.

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The slope is retained by logs; rocks; steps; and plantings of ornamental grasses and ground covers like ferns, cyclamen, hepaticas and native trillium.

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It has been known since at least 2006 that under experimental conditions, infection with F. hepatica lowers a cow's reaction to the skin test.

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Once he found a hepatica bud the last day of February ...

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I saw it go with the children to school in a single treasured blossom, or trailing the Sunday trippers in dropped sprays of hepatica and potentilla back from the Jersey shore.

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