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

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

Of the genus Fistulina but one species, Fistulina hepatica, figured in Plate X, is recorded as edible and indigenous to this country.

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

Let a hepatica be plucked from its home in a rocky crevice where one marvels how it ever contrived to root itself and find subsistence.

From Little Masterpieces of Science: The Naturalist as Interpreter and Seer by Iles, George

They are the bloodroot, the hepatica, and the fern.

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