CROWFOOT FAMILY ~ RANUNCULACEAE 
SHARP-LOBED HEPATICA. LIVERLEAF 
Hepatica acutiloba DC. 
| This Hepatica, frequently called Liverleaf, is one of our 
earliest spring flowers. In woods throughout Illinois and neigh- 
boring states it is found blossoming soon after the Soft Maple 
and the Skunk Cabbage, 
usually in March. It 
becomes more abundant 
in the western part of 
its range, which is from 
western Quebec to Minn- 
esota, south through 
western New Hampshire 
to Georgia and Missouri. 
The old leaves live 
over winter and the new 
ones do not develop 
until after the flowers 
have come out in spring. 
They are normally 3- 
s-lobed but a fungus 
usually seems associated 
with later leaves that 
have more lobes, giving 
rise to the belief that extra lobations are deformities. 
The flowers have no petals but their sepals appear like petals 
because they are either white or gaily colored various shades 
of blue and purple. The 3 small leaves just below each flower 
form an involucre that looks like a calyx. The stamens are 
numerous and all of them bear anthers. Pistils also are numer- 
ous and each develops into an akene. The odor of the flowers 
is slightly unpleasant and not attractive to insects except a few 
flies which probably aid in pollination. 
Another species, the Round-lobed Hepatica, Hepatica triloba 
Chaix, also occurs in Illinois but not as commonly as in eastern 
states. It is abundant in woods from Nova Scotia to Florida, west- 
ward to Minnesota and Missouri. The lobes of the leaves are ovate, 
obtuse or roundish whereas those of the Liverleaf are pointed. The 
6-12 sepals are blue to purplish or may be nearly white. There are 
several ovate-oblong, hairy and pointed akenes in a small loose head. 
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