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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of hepatica

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

Example Sentences

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

From Literature

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

From Seattle Times

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.

From BBC

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg