Hepatica is a genus in the Ranunculaceae family. Most of the species have fibrous roots, but one, Hepatica nobilis, has a short thick, rhizomatous rootstock.
Hepatica nobilis has a wide distribution and is found in Europe, Asia, Russia and eastern North America. It has glossy green or sometimes marbled leaves that are purple underneath. Flowers with 6 to 7 showy sepals are mostly blue, but there are white and pink flowers found in the wild and many cultivars being grown. Photos by John Lonsdale.
The form pictured below is native to Italy where it is found growing in the shade at an elevation of 300 to 1000m. It blooms mid February to March. Photos from Alessandro Marinello, Padova, Italy.
