hepatica n 1: any of several plants of the genus Hepatica having three- lobed leaves and white or pinkish flowers in early spring; of moist and mossy subalpine woodland areas of north temperate regions [syn: {hepatica}, {liverleaf}] 2: a common liverwort [syn: {hepatica}, {Marchantia polymorpha}]
Hepatica \He*pat"i*ca\, n.; pl. {Hepatic[ae]}. [NL. See {Hepatic}. So called in allusion to the shape of the lobed leaves or fronds.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Bot.) A genus of pretty spring flowers closely related to Anemone; squirrel cup. [1913 Webster] 2. (bot.) Any plant, usually procumbent and mosslike, of the cryptogamous class Hepatic[ae]; -- called also {scale moss} and {liverwort}. See {Hepatic[ae]}, in the Supplement. [1913 Webster]