Flower ID: IMG_5249.JPG-05-08-2023 Flower name (scientific): Hepatica acutiloba de Candolle PY: 1824. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) he-PAT-i-kuh (or he-PAT-ik-a) a-KEW-ti-low-buh Flower name (common): Sharp-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: The leaves have sharply pointed lobes. Common name origin: Sharp-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: white or blue or pink Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is simple and lobed Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, widely orbiculate (FNA), palmately divided into 3 lobes; the lobes are oval-ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to May Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Forests, woods, rock outcrops, dry to moist, semi shade to shade. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Hepatica americana (Round-lobed Hepatica) has similar flowers to Hepatica acutiloba. The two species can be differentiated by the shape of the leaves: H. americana has leaves with rounded lobes, whereas H. acutiloba has leaves with lobes that may be bluntly pointed or sharply pointed at the tip. Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed the roots of this plant to prepare a medicine to treat leucorrhoea (Smith, pp. 48-49, 1923). The Meskwaki used the roots to make a tea that was then used to treat some physical deformity (Smith, p. 239, 1928). The Chippewa used this species with other plants as a treament for amenorrhea, to treat bruises, and to deal with liver issues (Gilmore, p. 129, 1933). Gilmore uses the old name Hepatica triloba for this plant. Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed