Scientific Name: Anemone acutiloba
([Gr] anemone: wind. [Lat] acut-us: sharp.)
Common Name: sharp-lobed hepatica
Origin: NATIVE
Notes: The plant might be better known by its Basionym: Hepatica acutiloba or one of it's synonyms Hepatica nobilis var. acuta (see ref. 1 below). This early woodland bloomer emerges through last years leaf litter. At the time of flowering it still retains last years leaves. The leaves are liver colored (hence the name Hepatica) and the lobes are pointed (hence acuta). When the flowers fade, new green or mottled leaves emerge and these appear to develop a purplish-brown (liver) color as the season progresses.
Additional references: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Field Marks for Identification:
Flowers: April. Single, on hairy scape, no true petals, the petaloid sepals are white or various shades of blue or rose and usually number 6 but 7, 8, or more are not uncommon. The bracts on the flower scape look like sepals but are not since a bit of stem separates them from the flower. Fruit; achenes.
Leaves: All basal, most leaves have 3 lobes with acute (pointed) tips, but these plants are heterophyllus and sometimes produce smaller leaves with 5 or 7 pointed lobes.
Glossaries of botanical terms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
