CROWFOOT FAMILY 



RANUNCULACEAE 



SHARP-LOBED HEPATICA. LIVERLEAF 



Hepatif.a 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- 

 5-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 Liverleat 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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