BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Hepatica acutiloba | Sharp-Lobed Hepatica 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Sharp-lobed hepatica is a small, native, rhizomatous perennial, 2 to 7
inches (5-18 cm) tall [18].  Three leaves arise from the plant base.
Leaves are simple but deeply lobed.  The three leaves are longer than
they are wide, with acutely pointed lobe tips and indented (cordate)
bases [6,15,18].  Long, hairy flowerstalks have a single small (0.05-0.1
inch [12-25 mm]) flower.  Achenes are very hairy.


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Hemicryptophyte
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Sharp-lobed hepatica sprouts from short rhizomes, producing small
colonies [15,18]. 

Mature achenes form aggregates.  Seeds are carried away from the parent
plant by ants and rodents.  Ant dispersal is most successful for
establishment in young sparse populations.  Seedling establishment is
low in older dense populations of sharp-lobed hepatica [17].

Seeds have epicotyl dormancy which requires a warm stratification [1].
This is followed by a cold stratification of 2 to 3 months before
cotyledons emerge [1].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Sharp-lobed hepatica is found on topography that varies from gently
rolling hills to bluffs and outcroppings [3].  It occurs on soils of low
fertility and low moisture-holding capacity (e.g. sandy loam) to
calcareous moist upland woods [3,8].  Sharp-lobed hepatica is often
found on north-facing wooded slopes [8].

Species associated with sharp-lobed hepatica are those found in upland
mesic deciduous forests.  Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is often dominant
with red elm (Ulmus rubra) and basswood (Tilia americana) [20].  Of the
numerous herbaceous species, the dominant plants are eastern
springbeauty (Claytonia virginica), catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine),
recurved wakerobin (Trillium recurvatum), common mayapple (Podophyllum
pedatum), and black snakeroot (Sanicula gregaria) [20].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Climax Series

Sharp-lobed hepatica occurs in late-intermediate to early climax forests
of sugar maple (Acer saccharum), basswood (Tilia americana), yellow
birch (Betula alleghaniensis), and white ash (Fraxinus americana)
[4,20].  Daubenmire [4] also reported sharp-lobed hepatica present in
subclimax associations of red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Quercus
alba), and aspen (Populus tremuloides).  Although an early vernal
species, it is shade tolerant.  It occurs infrequently; Brundrett and
Kendrick [3] reported 0.22 percent importance value for sharp-lobed
hepatica in Ontario forests.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Thick leaves are kept through the winter on this clonal perennial,
allowing photosynthesis to begin quickly in the spring before the canopy
closes [3].  With this physiological jump-start, sharp-lobed hepatica
flowers from February to June throughout its range [6,8,9,13,16,18].
After flowering, the overwintering leaves become senescent, and new
leaves are produced.  The new leaves are more shade tolerant and,
therefore, more efficient at light harvesting [3].  Seeds mature
approximately 1 month after flowering [17].  Sharp-lobed hepatica
remains green when all other herbs have senesced in the fall.

Related categories for Species: Hepatica acutiloba | Sharp-Lobed Hepatica