liverleaf

9.9

A small plant with three-lobed leaves and pale spring flowers in damp woods

noun
/ˈlɪvərˌliːf/

: hepatica

The liverleaf is one of the first wildflowers to bloom in spring woodland.

Examples

She spotted a patch of liverleaf nestled among the mossy rocks near the stream.
The liverleaf is one of the first wildflowers to bloom in spring woodland.
Botanists admire the liverleaf for its delicate, three-lobed foliage and pastel flowers.
Look at that liverleaf!
What a lovely liverleaf!
Botanists admire the liverleaf for its delicate, three-lobed foliage and pastel flowers.
She spotted a patch of liverleaf nestled among the mossy rocks near the stream.

Synonyms

hepatica

vsliverleaf

Specialized

1 9.9

A small wildflower with three-lobed leaves that blooms in early spring with purple, pink, white, or blue flowers

has mostly white or pinkish flowers rather than many color varieties

Surface Forms

liverleaf singular

liverleaves plural

Morphology

liverleaf = liver + leaf (semi-transparent) = liver + leaf

Formed from the clear words 'liver' + 'leaf', but the compound names a specific plant species so the exact referent is specialized rather than predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Liverleaf comes from its two simple parts, liver and leaf, because the three-lobed leaves look like a 'liver' and people long ago thought the plant might help that organ. That's why liverleaf is the name for a small spring wildflower with three-part leaves that remind you of a liver.