Anemone hepatica

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Anemone hepatica
Hepatica nobilis plant.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Anemone
Species:
A. hepatica
Binomial name
Anemone hepatica
L.
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Anemone acuta (Pursh) Vail ex Britton
    • Anemone acutiloba(DC.) G.Lawson
    • Anemone praecox Salisb.
    • Anemone transylvanica Heuff.
    • Anemone triloba Stokes
    • Hepatica acuta(Pursh) Britton
    • Hepatica acutilobaDC.
    • Hepatica anemonoides Vest
    • Hepatica asiatica Nakai
    • Hepatica hepatica(L.) H.Karst. nom. inval.
    • Hepatica hepatica var. albiflora(R.Hoffm.) Farw.
    • Hepatica insularisNakai
    • Hepatica nobilis Schreb. non Mill.
    • Hepatica nobilis f. acutiloba(DC.) Beck
    • Hepatica nobilis f. albiflora(R.Hoffm.) Steyerm.
    • Hepatica nobilis f. hypopurpurea(Makino) Nakai
    • Hepatica nobilis f. luteaKadota
    • Hepatica nobilis f. plena(Fernald) Steyerm.
    • Hepatica nobilis f. pubescens(M.Hiroe) Kadota
    • Hepatica nobilis f. rosea(R.Hoffm.) Steyerm.
    • Hepatica nobilis f. variegata(Makino) Nakai
    • Hepatica nobilis var. acuta(Pursh) Steyerm.
    • Hepatica nobilis var. asiatica(Nakai) H.Hara
    • Hepatica nobilis var. japonicaNakai
    • Hepatica nobilis var. nipponicaNakai
    • Hepatica trilobaChoix

Anemone hepatica (syn. Hepatica nobilis), the common hepatica, liverwort, [2] liverleaf, [3] kidneywort, or pennywort, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This herbaceous perennial grows from a rhizome.

Contents

Description

Blue and pink Anemone hepatica flowers Hepatica nobilis flowers - blue and pink - Keila.jpg
Blue and pink Anemone hepatica flowers
Hepatica nobilis white flower - Keila.jpg

Anemone hepatica grows 5–15 cm (2–6 in) high. Leaves and flowers emerge directly from the rhizome, not from a stem above ground.

The leaves have three lobes and are fleshy and hairless, 7–9 cm (2+343+12 in) wide and 5–6 cm (2–2+14 in) long. The upper side is dark green with whitish stripes and the lower side is violet or reddish brown. Leaves emerge during or after flowering and remain green through winter.

The flowers are blue, purple, pink, or white and appear in winter or spring. They have five to ten oval showy sepals and three green bracts.[ citation needed ]

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the genus Anemone and its species is not fully resolved, but phylogenetic studies of many species of Anemone and related genera [4] indicate that species of the genus Hepatica should be included under Anemone because of similarities both in molecular attributes and other shared morphologies. [5] The circumscription of the taxon is also debated, some authors listing the North American var. acuta [6] and var. obtusa, [7] while other list them as the separate species A. acutiloba and A. americana, respectively. [8]

Varieties

Varieties of Anemone hepatica that are sometimes recognized include: [1]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in woods, thickets and meadows, especially in the mountains of continental Europe, North America and Japan.[ citation needed ]

Ecology

Hepatica flowers produce pollen but no nectar. In North America, the flowers first attract Lasioglossum sweat bees and small carpenter bees looking in vain for nectar. Then when the stamens begin to release pollen, the bees return to collect and feed on pollen. Mining bees sometimes visit the flowers, but prefer flowers that produce both nectar and pollen. [13] [ dubious discuss ]

Toxicity

Like other Ranunculaceae, fresh liverwort contains protoanemonin and is therefore slightly toxic. By drying the herb, protoanemonin is dimerized to the non-toxic anemonin.[ citation needed ]

Uses

Medieval herbalists believed it could be used to treat liver diseases, and may be used in current folk medicine.[ citation needed ] [14]

Under the name Hepatica nobilis, which is regarded as a synonym, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [15]

Culture

It is the official flower of the Sweden Democrats political party in Swedish politics.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>Anemone</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae

Anemone is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Plants of the genus are commonly called windflowers. They are native to the temperate and subtropical regions of all regions except Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the Middle East. The genus is closely related to several other genera including Anemonoides, Anemonastrum, Hepatica, and Pulsatilla. Some botanists include these genera within Anemone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranunculaceae</span> Family of eudicot flowering plants

Ranunculaceae is a family of over 2,000 known species of flowering plants in 43 genera, distributed worldwide.

<i>Hepatica</i> Genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Hepatica is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, native to central and northern Europe, Asia and eastern North America. Some botanists include Hepatica within a wider interpretation of Anemone.

<i>Anemonoides nemorosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Anemonoides nemorosa, the wood anemone, is an early-spring flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe. Other common names include windflower, European thimbleweed, and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves. It is a perennial herbaceous plant growing 5–15 cm (2–6 in) tall.

<i>Dasiphora fruticosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae

Dasiphora fruticosa is a species of hardy deciduous flowering shrub in the family Rosaceae, native to the cool temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere, often growing at high altitudes in mountains. Dasiphora fruticosa is still widely referenced in the horticultural literature under its synonym Potentilla fruticosa. Common names include shrubby cinquefoil, golden hardhack, bush cinquefoil, shrubby five-finger, widdy, kuril tea and tundra rose.

<i>Caltha palustris</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family

Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium sized perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flowers between April and August, dependent on altitude and latitude, but occasional flowers may occur at other times.

<i>Camellia japonica</i> Species of flowering plant

Camellia japonica, known as common camellia, or Japanese camellia, is a species of Camellia, a flowering plant genus in the family Theaceae. There are thousands of cultivars of C. japonica in cultivation, with many colors and forms of flowers. Despite its common name, it is native to China, not Japan. The cultivation of Camellia japonica also started in China. Its widespread cultivation can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, when 15 varieties of Camellia japonica were recorded in literature. It was later introduced to Japan. It grows in forests, at altitudes of around 300–1,100 metres (980–3,600 ft).

<i>Heracleum sphondylium</i> Species of flowering plant in the celery family Apiaceae

Heracleum sphondylium, commonly known as hogweed or common hogweed, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, which includes fennel, cow parsley, ground elder and giant hogweed. It is native to most of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa, but is introduced in North America and elsewhere. Other common names include cow parsnip. The flowers provide a great deal of nectar for pollinators.

<i>Anemonoides quinquefolia</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Anemonoides quinquefolia, a flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, is native to North America. It is commonly called wood anemone or windflower, not to be confused with Anemonoides nemorosa, a closely related European species also known by these common names. The specific epithet quinquefolia means "five-leaved", which is a misnomer since each leaf has just three leaflets. A plant typically has a single, small white flower with 5 sepals.

<i>Geum triflorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Geum triflorum, commonly known as prairie smoke, old man's whiskers, or three-flowered avens, is a spring-blooming perennial herbaceous plant of the Rosaceae family. It is a hemiboreal continental climate species that is widespread in colder and drier environments of western North America, although it does occur in isolated populations as far east as New York and Ontario. It is particularly known for the long feathery plumes on the seed heads that have inspired many of the regional common names and aid in wind dispersal of its seeds.

<i>Symphyotrichum lateriflorum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to central and eastern North America

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). Commonly known as calico aster, starved aster, and white woodland aster, it is native to eastern and central North America. It is a perennial and herbaceous plant that may reach heights up to 120 centimeters and widths up to 30 centimeters.

<i>Hepatica americana</i> Species of flowering plant

Hepatica americana, the round-lobed hepatica, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is native to the eastern United States and Canada.

<i>Eriocapitella hupehensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Eriocapitella hupehensis, a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, is native to Asia. The specific epithet hupehensis, which means "from Hupeh province, China", refers to a region where the species is known to occur. In Chinese, it is called dǎ pò wǎn huā huā (打破碗花花), which means "broken bowl flower".

<i>Anemonoides blanda</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Anemonoides blanda, syn. Anemone blanda, the Balkan anemone, Grecian windflower, or winter windflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. The species is native to southeastern Europe and the Middle East. The specific epithet blanda means "mild" or "charming". The genus name is derived from the Greek word anemos, or wind.

<i>Pulsatilla nuttalliana</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla nuttalliana, known as American pasqueflower, prairie pasqueflower, prairie crocus, or simply pasqueflower, is a flowering plant native to much of North America, from the western side of Lake Michigan, to northern Canada in the Northwest Territories, south to New Mexico in the southwestern United States. Pasqueflower is the provincial flower of Manitoba and the state flower of South Dakota.

<i>Hepatica acutiloba</i> Species of flowering plant

Hepatica acutiloba, the sharp-lobed hepatica, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is sometimes considered part of the genus Anemone, as Anemone acutiloba, A. hepatica, or A. nobilis.

<i>Eriocapitella</i> Genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Eriocapitella is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Plants of the genus are native to Asia. The generic name Eriocapitella roughly translates to "growing in a small woolly head", which refers to the hairy ovary and fruit of some members of the genus. Cultivated plants are commonly known as fall-blooming anemones.

<i>Eriocapitella tomentosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Eriocapitella tomentosa, a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, is native to Asia. The specific epithet tomentosa means "thickly matted with hairs, tomentum (padding)". In Chinese, a common name is da huo cao (大火草), which means "big fire grass" or "great fireweed".

<i>Eriocapitella japonica</i> Species of flowering plant

Eriocapitella japonica is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. The specific epithet japonica means "from Japan", which is a misnomer since the species is introduced in Japan. It is native to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

<i>Eriocapitella <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> hybrida</i> Hybrid of flowering plant

Eriocapitella × hybrida is a hybrid of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. The parents of the hybrid are E. japonica and E. vitifolia. Cultivars of the hybrid are commonly known as Japanese anemone hybrids.

References

  1. 1 2 "Anemone hepatica L." Tropicos . Missouri Botanical Gardens via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  2. Horace Kephart (1936). "Early Spring Flowers of the North Carolina Mountains". The Journal of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Club. 1 (7): 77–83. doi:10.2307/4031043. JSTOR   4031043.
  3. "Hepatica nobilis | liverleaf Alpine Rockery/RHS Gardening". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  4. Sara B. Hoot; Anton A. Reznicek; Jeffrey D. Palmer (January–March 1994). "Phylogenetic Relationships in Anemone (Ranunculaceae) Based on Morphology and Chloroplast DNA". Systematic Botany. 19 (1): 169–200. doi:10.2307/2419720. JSTOR   2419720.
  5. Dutton, Bryan E.; Keener, Carl S.; Ford, Bruce A. (1997). "Anemone". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  6. "Anemone hepatica var. acuta (Pursh) Pritz. — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  7. "Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (Pursh) Steyerm. — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  8. "GRIN-Global Web v 1.10.5.0". npgsweb.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  9. "Hepatica nobilis var. japonicaNakai". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  10. "Anemone hepatica var. japonica - Hortipedia". en.hortipedia.com. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  11. "Hepatica acutilobaDC.". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  12. "Hepatica americana(DC.) Ker Gawl.". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  13. Heather Holm (2014). Pollinators on Native Plants. Minnetonka, MN: Pollinator Press. pp. 140–141.
  14. Howard, Michael (1987). Traditional Folk Remedies. Century. pp. 161–2.
  15. "Hepatica nobilis". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 14 August 2020.