Hepatica

a lowly, modest plant of the buttercup family, closely allied to the anemone. In northeastern United States the hepatica is the earliest flower to bloom in the woodlands. Its flowers vary from white and pink to purple. The leaf is three-lobed. While the snow still lies deep in the sugar camp hepaticas may be found on the brow of a ravine exposed to the southern sun. A few days later others may be found snuggled up to the south side of a huge stump. Hepaticas do well in a shady, rich corner of a garden, if they can have plenty of loam from the woods.