hepatica

American  

[hi-pat-i-kuh] / hɪˈpæt ɪ kə /

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 British  

/ hɪˈpætɪkə /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of hepatica

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

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hepatica

The pale blue hepatica, with leaves shaped like the lobes of the liver, was good for any liver disorder.

From Time Magazine Archive

Folks thought, Mr. Chris said, that hepatica leaves were good for liver medicine because the leaves were the shape of livers.

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen

The hepatica comes first, with its pale violet blossoms nearly hidden under a thick covering of the dead leaves of the forest.

From Text Books of Art Education, Book IV (of 7) by Hugo B. Froehlich

Fistulina hepatica, or the ox tongue, and Hygrophorus eburneus, the ivory mushroom.

From Student's Hand-book of Mushrooms of America, Edible and Poisonous by Thomas Taylor

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

From Modern Essays by Harry Morgan Ayres

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---