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.

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