Sharp-lobed Hepatica - Anemone acutiloba
Above: Sharp-lobed Hepatica in the Maple-Basswood Forest of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on May 4, 2020.
Sharp-lobed Hepatica - Anemone acutiloba/Hepatica nobilis acuta (Spring Ephemeral)
Round-lobed Hepatica - Anemone americana/Anemone americana (Spring Ephemeral)
Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
The flowers are borne on leafless, aerial shoots (scapes) from the root. The shoots extend above the leaves from 4 to 8 inches high. There are no petals; however,
they have 5 to 12 oblong, petal-like sepals that can range in color from white, pink, lavender, purple to a light blue . There are three green bracts at the base of the sepals.
The best way to differentiate Sharp-lobed Hepatica from Round-lobed Hepatica is whether the tips on leaves have round or pointed tips.
NOTE: Since I did not see the leaves that were under a bed of dead maple leaves, I cannot be sure that these flowers are not Round-lobed Hepatica. However, given the white flowers, I would guess Sharp-lobed Hepatica.
I believe the lavender, purple flowered Hepatica photos lower on the page are Round-lobed Hepatica.
For more information on Sharp-lobed and Round-lobed Hepatica, visit The Friends of the Wild Flower Garden.
Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin Horticulture Division Extension website page on Hepatica.
Or, for information on Sharp-lobed Hepatica visit the Wisconsin State Herbarium.
Or, for information on Round-lobed Hepatica visit the Wisconsin State Herbarium.
Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Anemone acutiloba/Hepatica nobilis acuta
Above: Sharp-lobed Hepatica in the Maple-Basswood Forest of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin (5/04/20)
Above: Hepatica near the University of Wisconsin Arboretum Visitor's Center in Madison, Wisconsin (4/08/21)
Above: Hepatica near the University of Wisconsin Arboretum Visitor's Center in Madison, Wisconsin (4/14/21)
Above: Hepatica near the University of Wisconsin Arboretum Visitor's Center in Madison, Wisconsin (4/17/21)
Above: Hepatica near Agawa Path in Madison, Wisconsin (4/19/21)
Above: Hepatica near the University of Wisconsin Arboretum Visitor's Center in Madison, Wisconsin (4/22/21)
Above: Hepatica near Agawa Path in Madison, Wisconsin (4/13/22)
Above: Hepatica near Agawa Path in Madison, Wisconsin (4/21/22)
Above: 1913 Hepatica acutiloba (Sharp-lobed) illustration.
Above: 1913 Hepatica americana (Round-lobed) illustration.
Above: 1917 Hepatica americana (Round-lobed) illustration by Mary Vaux Walcott.
Above: Hepatica (Triloba) Wild Flower Children by Elizabeth Gordon with illustration by Janet Laura Scott .
