Hepatica nobilis

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Common name

Liverleaf

Scientific name

Hepatica nobilis Mill.

Conservation status and threats

NOT protected species in Bulgaria.

Description and identification

Perennial herbaceous plant. Rhizome short, thick, oblique or horizontal, dark brown. Leaves numerous, dark green above, leathery, short pubescent, subsequently glabrous, light green to purple below, long pubescent, subsequently glabrous; petioles 20 to 50 mm long and 10 to 40 mm wide, three-parted, cordate at the base; the lobes ovate, entire, rarely with sparse single teeth. Upper stem leaves from 8 to 10 mm long and from 6 to 8 mm wide, entire, long pubescent, cup-shaped, ovate. Flowers single, 15 to 25 mm in diameter, blue-violet, purple, pink or white. Pedicels 5-15 cm long, with long hairs. Perianth is petaloid. Tepals 6-7 (up to 10), narrowly elliptical-spatulate, 10-12 mm long and 5-6 (8) mm wide, rounded at the apex, entire, glabrous. Stamens numerous; filaments white or pink, considerably longer than the anthers, the latter white. Pistils numerous, with densely silvery hairs^[1].

Habitat

In the bushes and deciduous forests^[2].

Distribution in Bulgaria

Predbalkan, Stara Planina, Sofia Region, Znepol Region, Vitosha Region, Western Border Mountains, Belasitsa, Pirin, Rila, Sredna Gora, Rhodopes, up to 1650 m altitude^[3].

References

[1] Делипавлов, Д., И. Чешмеджиев, М. Попова, Д. Терзийски, И. Ковачев. 2003. Определител на растенията в България. Аграрен университет. Пловдив.

[2] Делипавлов и кол. 2003. Пос. източник.

[3] Делипавлов и кол. 2003. Пос. източник.

Hepatica nobilis на български

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