any ranunculaceous woodland plant of the N temperate genus Hepatica, having three-lobed leaves and white, mauve, or pink flowers
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin: liverwort, from Latin hēpaticus of the liver
hepatica in American English
(hɪˈpætɪkə)
noun
any of a genus (Hepatica) of small plants of the buttercup family, with three-lobed leaves and white, pink, blue, or purple flowers that bloom in early spring
Word origin
ModL (see hepatic): in allusion to its liver-shaped, lobed leaves