Sharp-Lobed Hepatica
Hepatica acutiloba
ButterCup Family
A plant of rich woods, Hepatica has 6-10 petals that appear before the new year's leaves. The old leaves may still be present but the new leaves may develope before flowering has ended. Sharped-Lobed Hepatica's leaves have pointed lobes (see photo below). Similar is Round-Lobed Hepatica that has leaves with rounder lobes and prefers less acidic soils. What appear to be three sepals is really a set of three leaves on the stem just under the flower. Blooms in March-April.Photo--03.24.01 Polk County
Sharped-Lobed Hepatica--a last season's leaf.