Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0144.JPG-04-16-2017
Flower name (scientific): Hepatica americana (de Candolle) Ker Gawler PY: 1819. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) he-PAT-i-kuh (or he-PAT-ik-a) a-mer-ih-KAY-nah
Flower name (common): Round-lobed Hepatica
Family name (common): Buttercup
Family name (scientific): Ranunculaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek hepatos meaning liver, which the leaves are supposedly thought to resemble.
    Specific epithet: Of or from America.
Common name origin: Round-lobed from the shape of the lobes for each leaf. Hepatica derived from the Latin hepaticus and taken from Greek, pertaining to the liver, its color and its use as a medicine for liver complaints. Also, the shape of the leaves was thought to resemble the liver.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm)
     Petal count: 0 (5 to 12 petal-like sepals).
     Color: purple to white
     Other: flower arrangement, Solitary
Plant description:
     Size: 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) tall.
     Stem hairy: typically densely hairy.
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is simple and lobed, with 3 lobes.
     Size: Leaves up to 7 cm long and 10 cm wide. Individual leaf lobes up to 3 cm wide.
     Color: Typically darker green, sometimes with two shades of green.
     Hairy: young leaves hairy, becoming glabrous or glabrate with age.
     Other: Shape: leaf, widely orbiculate (orbicular) (FNA).
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): April to May
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Woods, forests, sun or part shade, dry to moist.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): The flowers of Hepatica acutiloba (Sharp-lobed Hepatica) are very similar, but this species has leaves with lobes that are more pointed, whereas Hepatica americana has leaves with lobes that are well-rounded (widely orbiculate).
Ethnobotany: Employed by the Chippewa as an abortifacient, anticonvulsive, dermatological aid, a liver aid, and as a pediatric aid (Gilmore, p. 129, 1933; Densmore, p.336, 1928). The Menominee used the plant to treat dysentery (Densmore, p. 131, 1932). The Potawatomi prepared a vertigo medicine from the root and leaves (Smith, p. 40, 1933). Gilmore and Smith use the old synonym name Hepatica triloba for this plant.
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Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Hepatica triloba var. americana de Candolle Syst. Nat. 1: 216. 1817.
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 3 homotypic synonyms for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s): na
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): Not listed
Wetland Status (MW): Not listed