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

False truffles, 98.Fairy-ring champignon, 94.Families and orders, table of, 80.Fenestrate sporidia, 135.Fetid fungi, 116.Fistulina hepatica, 96.Floras of Europe, &c.,

From Fungi: Their Nature and Uses by Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)

First of the blues comes the fuzzy-stemmed and fuzzy-budded hepatica, which is known also by the ugly name of "liverwort."

From Woodcraft or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good by Douglas, Alan

Early in February, when the cheerless frosts of winter seem most wearisome, the common blue violet, wood anemone, hepatica, or rock-columbine, if planted in this way, will begin to bloom.

From Household Papers and Stories by Stowe, Harriet Beecher