Saturday, April 18, 2009

Hepatica



I love wildflowers. Every spring I get to know them a little bit more. The very first flowers of our season are just starting to rise from the ground in the forest. Here are photographs I have taken this week of the Hepatica flower. The first is titled "At Last" and can be found in my photography shop www.jenniferaitchison.etsy.com





In case you were wondering ...
Hepatica - genus of spring wildflowers of buttercup family Ranunculaceae; leaves three-lobed (in shape of human liver) and remain green all winter; delicate blue, purple, pink, or white flowers on short, hairy stems; grow to 3 in. tall; native to woods of eastern North America; also grown in Europe and Asia. Hepatica is named from its leaves, which, like the human liver (Greek hepar), have three lobes. It was once used as a medicinal herb. Owing to the doctrine of signatures, the plant was thought an effective treatment for liver disorders. Although poisonous in large doses, the leaves and flowers may be used as an astringent, demulcent for slow-healing injuries and as a diuretic.










5 comments:

Amy said...

Jennifer great new blog post lovely little flowers and I just love the name "At Last"

TheEye said...

those are really pretty! I'm glad you posted the name. Surprised me to see they are part of the buttercup family. We don't get that type around here. Every region has its own native flowers and 'weeds'...though if it's pretty and it's a flower, I can't see why they call it a weed.... very nice blog post!

Unknown said...

Lovely woodland flowers. They look similar to ones that pop up first here in Colorado but the leaves are different. Beautiful captures!

myan said...

jen, these are beautiful! i can't remember when i've seen a buttercup last! thanks for the awesome garden tour! :)

Allie said...

Love this post, Jennifer! Very interesting, and your photographs are beautiful!