HEPATICA 



own. Its botanic name is of Greek derivation, but 

 without significance so far as we know. 



^ HEPATICA. LIVERLEAF 



Hepdtica acutiloha. Hcpdtica triloba ('^^^ 5y>* / 

 HepdlicGy liver, referring to the shape of the leaf. 



Low, stemless perennial. Native to the open woods of 

 the northern parts of America, Europe, and Asia. Grows 

 in tufts, with many fibrous roots. Abundant in northern 

 Ohio. March, April. 



Scapes. — Four to six inches high, downy. 



Leaves. — Hairy at first, appearing after the flowers, 

 all from the root, long-petioled, thick, evergreen, three- 

 lobed, reniform. 



Flowers. — Blue, lavender, white, pale pink, borne 

 singly on an erect scape; with three involucral leaves a 

 quarter of an inch below the blossoms, looking like a 

 calyx. 



Corolla. — Wanting. 



Calyx. — Sepals petal-like, five to eight, oblong, obtuse. 



Stamens. — Many, with greenish white anthers and abun- 

 dant pollen. 



Pistil. — Many carpels varying in number from six to 

 twenty-four, one-celled, one-ovuled. 



Fruit. — Akenes, short-beaked, hairy. 



Pollinated by bees and flies. 



"I, country bom and bred, know where to find. 

 Some blooms that make the season suit the mind, 

 An' seem to metch the doubtin' bluebird's notes, — 

 Half vent'rin' liverworts in furry coats." 



— "The Biglow Papers," Lowell. 



75 



