View source for Hepatica

{{short description|Genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae}}
{{For-multi|the division of non-vascular plants commonly referred to as hepatics|Marchantiophyta|the genus of moths|Hepatica (moth)}}
{{automatic taxobox
|image = Hepatica nobilis plant.JPG
|image_caption = ''Hepatica nobilis''
|display_parents = 2
|taxon = Hepatica
|authority = [[Philip Miller|Mill.]]
|synonyms=
* ''Isopyrum'' {{small|Adans.}}
|synonyms_ref={{r|POWO}}
}}
[[Image:Hepatica transsylvanica.jpg|thumb|''Hepatica transsilvanica'']]

'''''Hepatica''''' ('''hepatica''',<ref>Gleason, H.A. 1952. ''The new Britton and Brown Illustrated flora of the Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Volume 2: The chloripetalous Dicotyledoneae''. Hafner Press, New York.</ref> '''liverleaf''',<ref>Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. ''Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada''. Macmillan, New York.</ref> or '''liverwort''')<ref>''Webster's Third International Dictionary''</ref> is a [[genus]] of [[herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[perennial plant|perennials]] in the [[Ranunculaceae|buttercup family]], native to central and northern [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and eastern [[North America]]. Some botanists include ''Hepatica'' within a [[sensu lato|wider interpretation]] of ''[[Anemone]]''.<ref name="Lloyd">{{cite web |url=http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/dmna/hepatica.html |title=Drugs and medicines of North America: ''Hepatica'' |author1=John Uri Lloyd |author2=Curtis G. Lloyd |date=1884–1887}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title=Phylogenetic Relationships in Anemone (Ranunculaceae) Based on Morphology and Chloroplast DNA  | journal=Systematic Botany | volume=19 | issue=1 | date=Jan–Mar 1994 | pages=169–200 | doi=10.2307/2419720 |author1=Sara B. Hoot |author2=Anton A. Reznicek |author3=Jeffrey D. Palmer | jstor=2419720| bibcode=1994SysBo..19..169H }}</ref>

==Description==
[[Plant sexuality#Terminology|Bisexual]] [[flower]]s with pink, purple, blue, or white [[sepal]]s and three green [[bract]]s appear singly on hairy [[Plant stem|stem]]s from late [[winter]] to [[spring (season)|spring]]. [[Butterfly|Butterflies]], [[moth]]s, [[bee]]s, [[fly|flies]] and [[beetle]]s are known [[pollinator]]s.

The [[leaf|leaves]] are basal, leathery, and usually three-lobed, remaining over [[winter]].

==Taxonomy==
''Hepatica'' was described by the English [[botany|botanist]] [[Philip Miller]] in 1754.{{r|IPNI:326029-2}} It was proposed as a [[subgenus]] of ''[[Anemone]]'' in 1836,{{r|IPNI:60466760-2}} but later [[Segregate (taxonomy)|segregated]] into genus ''Hepatica''.

===Taxa===
[[Image:HepaticaNobilisMacro.jpg|thumb|''Hepatica nobilis'' flowers]]
[[File:Hepatica in Lithuania.jpg|thumb|Hepatica in [[Europos Parkas]], [[Lithuania]]]]
[[File:Hepatica nobilis var. pyrenaica .jpg|thumb|''Hepatica nobilis'' in [[Aínsa]], [[Spain]]]]
{{As of|January 2021}}, [[Kew]]'s [[Plants of the World Online]] (POWO) accepts 7&nbsp;[[species]] and one [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] in the genus ''Hepatica'':{{r|POWO}}

{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* ''[[Hepatica acutiloba]]'' {{small|DC.}}
** Synonym: ''Anemone acutiloba'' {{small|(DC.) G.Lawson}}
** Synonym: ''Hepatica nobilis'' var. ''acuta'' {{small|(Pursh) Steyerm.}}
* ''[[Hepatica americana]]'' {{small|(DC.) Ker Gawl.}}
** Synonym: ''Anemone americana'' {{small|(DC.) H.Hara}}
** Synonym: ''Hepatica nobilis'' var. ''obtusa'' {{small|(Pursh) Steyerm.}}
* ''[[Hepatica falconeri]]'' {{small|(Thomson) Steward}}
* ''[[Hepatica henryi]]'' {{small|(Oliv.) Steward}}
** Synonym: ''Hepatica yamatutai'' {{small|Nakai}}
* ''[[Hepatica maxima]]'' {{small|(Nakai) Nakai}}
* [[Hepatica × media|''Hepatica&nbsp;×&nbsp;media'']] {{small|Simonk.}}
* ''[[Hepatica nobilis]]'' {{small|Schreb.}}
** Synonym: ''Anemone hepatica'' {{small|L.}}
* ''[[Hepatica transsilvanica]]'' {{small|[[Michael Fuss|Fuss]]}}
** Synonym: ''Anemone transsilvanica'' {{small|(Fuss) Heuff.}}
}}

One [[Infraspecific name|infraspecific]] [[taxon]] is also recognized by POWO:{{r|POWO:77132909-1}}

* ''Hepatica nobilis'' var.&nbsp;''japonica'' {{small|Nakai}}
** Synonym: ''Hepatica asiatica'' {{small|Nakai}}
** Synonym: ''Hepatica insularis'' {{small|Nakai}}

''Hepatica'' can be divided into two [[Series (botany)|series]] with respect to leaf edge:

====Series ''Triloba''====
The leaves of the series ''Triloba'' [[Oskar Eberhard Ulbrich|Ulbr.]]<ref name="Ulbr">Ulbrich, O.E.: Über die systematische Gliederung und geographische Verbreitung der Gattung Anemone L. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. (1905) 37: 172 - 257, 38: 257 - 334.</ref> [[Michio Tamura|Tamura]]:<ref name=Tamu>Tamura, M.: Morphology, ecology and phylogeny of the Ranunculaceae” VII. Science reports of South College, North College of Osaka University, Japan 16:21-43, 1968.</ref> are three-lobed with a smooth leaf edge.

* ''Hepatica acutiloba'': [[Eastern Canada]], [[Midwestern United States]], [[Eastern United States]]{{r|POWO:711388-1|FNA:233500048|Weakley2008}}
* ''Hepatica americana'': [[Central Canada]], Eastern Canada, Midwestern United States, Eastern United States{{r|POWO:711389-1|FNA:233500049|Weakley2008}}
* ''Hepatica maxima'': endemic to [[Ulleung-do]] island (South Korea){{r|POWO:711401-1}}
* ''Hepatica nobilis'':
** ''Hepatica nobilis'' var. ''nobilis'': [[Europe]] to [[Western Siberia]]{{r|POWO:711404-1}}
** ''Hepatica nobilis'' var. ''japonica'': [[Russian Far East]], [[North China]], [[Central China]], [[East China]], [[Korea]], and Japan ([[Honshu]], [[Shikoku]], north of [[Kyushu]] island){{r|POWO:77132909-1}}

====Series ''Angulosa''====
The leaves of series ''Angulosa'' (Ulbr.)<ref name=Ulbr /> Tamura<ref name= Tamu /> are three- to five-lobed with a [[Leaf#Crenate|crenate]] leaf edge.

* ''Hepatica falconeri'' — Mountain forests of Central Asia; India: Northwest Himalayas ([[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]); Northwest China ([[Tienshan]]); Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan ([[Pamir-Alay|Pamir-Alai]]); North Pakistan, Kazakhstan (North Tienshan){{r|POWO:711393-1}}
* ''Hepatica henryi'': North Central China, [[South Central China]] (western [[Hubei]], northern [[Hunan]], [[Sichuan]], [[Shaanxi]]){{r|POWO:711395-1}}<ref>STEWARD, A.N.: in Rhodora 29: 53. 1927</ref><ref>Peters, Jürgen: ''Das etwas andere Leberblümchen: Hepatica yamatutai Nakai'' in ‚Gartenbotanische Blätter‘ 5/2000 der Gartenbotanischen Vereinigung in Deutschland</ref>
* ''Hepatica&nbsp;×&nbsp;media'': [[Romania]]{{r|POWO:711402-1}}
* ''Hepatica transsilvanica'': Romania ([[Carpathian Mountains]], [[Transylvania]]){{r|POWO:711406-1}}

===Etymology===
The word ''hepatica'' derives from the [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|ἡπατικός}} {{grc-tr|ἡπατικός}}, from {{wikt-lang|grc|ἧπαρ}} {{grc-tr|ἧπαρ}} 'liver', because its three-lobed leaf was thought to resemble the human [[liver]].<ref name=SOED>{{cite book|title=Shorter Oxford English dictionary|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-0199206872|pages=3804}}</ref>

==Distribution==
Plants of genus ''Hepatica'' are [[Native plant|native]] to [[Europe]], [[Asia]], and [[North America]].{{r|POWO}}

* Europe: Albania, Austria, the [[Baltic states]], Belarus, Bulgaria, Corsica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, [[European Russia]], Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Yugoslavia
* Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Western Siberia
* Eastern Asia: [[North China]], [[South Central China]], [[East China]], Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Primorsky Krai
* South Asia: Pakistan, Western Himalaya
* Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec
* United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Plants of the genus have been introduced to Belgium.{{r|POWO}}

==Cultivation==
''Hepatica'' cultivation has been popular in Japan since the 18th century (mid-[[Edo period]]),  where flowers with [[doubled petals]] and a range of colour patterns have been developed.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jon Ardle |year=2000 |title=Layers of Complexity |journal=The Garden |publisher=[[Royal Horticultural Society]]}}</ref>

Noted for its tolerance of [[alkali#Alkaline soil|alkaline]] [[limestone]]-derived soils, ''Hepatica'' may grow in a wide range of conditions; it can be found either in deeply shaded deciduous (especially [[beech]]) [[woodland]] and scrub or [[grassland]] in full sun. ''Hepatica'' will also grow in both sandy and clay-rich substrates, being associated with [[limestone]]. Moist soil and winter snowfall are required; ''Hepatica'' is tolerant of winter snow cover, but less so of dry frost.

Propagation is done by seeds or by dividing vigorous clumps in spring. However, seedlings take several years to reach bloom size, and divided plants are slow to thicken.

==Uses==
''Hepatica'' was once used as a [[herbalism|medicinal herb]]. Owing to the [[doctrine of signatures]], the plant was once thought to be an effective treatment for liver disorders. Although poisonous in large doses, the leaves and flowers may be used as an [[astringent]], as a [[demulcent]] for slow-healing injuries, and as a [[diuretic]].<ref name="Lloyd"/>

{{multiple image
 | footer =Distribution map of "Hepatica" in Europe, Asia and North America. (Try according to natural distribution given in the wikipedia pages)
 | width1 = 500
 | width2 = 260
 | align   = center
 | image1  = Hepatica distribution EurAsia.png
 | image2  = Hepatica distribution America.png
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|40em|refs=
<ref name=POWO>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica'' {{small|Mill.}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326029-2 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711388-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica acutiloba'' {{small|DC.}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711388-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711389-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica americana'' {{small|(DC.) Ker Gawl.}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711389-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711393-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica falconeri'' {{small|(Thomson) Steward}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711393-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711395-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica henryi'' {{small|(Oliv.) Steward}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711395-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711401-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica maxima'' {{small|(Nakai) Nakai}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711401-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711402-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica&nbsp;×&nbsp;media'' {{small|Simonk.}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711402-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711404-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica nobilis'' {{small|Schreb.}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711404-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:77132909-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica nobilis'' var.&nbsp;''japonica'' {{small|Nakai}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77132909-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO:711406-1>{{cite web |title=''Hepatica transsilvanica'' {{small|Fuss}} |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:711406-1 |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=IPNI:326029-2>{{IPNI |id=326029-2 |taxon=Hepatica |authority=Mill&period; |accessdate=2021-01-10}}</ref>
<ref name=IPNI:60466760-2>{{IPNI |id=60466760-2 |taxon=Anemone subgen. Hepatica |authority=(Mill.) Heer |accessdate=2021-01-10}}</ref>
<ref name=FNA:233500048>{{eFloras|1|233500048|volume=3|Anemone acutiloba |last1=Dutton |first1=Bryan E. |last2=Keener |first2=Carl S. |last3=Ford |first3=Bruce A. |accessdate=11 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name=FNA:233500049>{{eFloras|1|233500049|volume=3|Anemone americana |last1=Dutton |first1=Bryan E. |last2=Keener |first2=Carl S. |last3=Ford |first3=Bruce A. |accessdate=11 January 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="Weakley2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm |title=Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and Surrounding Areas |author=Alan S. Weakley |date=April 2008 }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |last1=Commichau |first1=Michael Alexander |title=Hepatica: Aktueller Überblick über die Gattung |url=http://hepatica-privat.de/Data/Hepatica.pdf |access-date=11 January 2021 |date=2007}}
* {{cite web |last1=Slattery |first1=Britt E. |last2=Reshetiloff |first2=Kathryn |last3=Zwicker |first3=Susan M. |title=Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed |url=https://www.fws.gov/external-affairs/marketing-communications/printing-and-publishing/publications/FW-3013-Native-Plants-for-Wildlife-Habitat-and-Conservation-Landscaping-Chesapeake-Bay-Watershed.pdf |publisher=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD |access-date=12 January 2021 |date=2003}}
* {{cite web |last1=Mahr |first1=Susan |title=''Hepatica'' |url=https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/hepatica/ |publisher=University of Wisconsin-Madison |access-date=27 March 2021}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q157505}}

[[Category:Hepatica| ]]
[[Category:Ranunculaceae genera]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants of Asia]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants of Europe]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants of North America]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Philip Miller]]