Trillium Trail - First Bloom: Hepatica

Another lovely, but rainy, hike along the trillium. Although it's not a trillium, we have our first bloom along the trail!

The first bloom on the trail is......
the Sharp Lobed Hepatica! 

​About:
There are only two species of hepatica in North America, both live in the same area: the sharp-lobed and the round-lobed hepatica. Both species look the same except for the three deeply lanceolate lobed leaves are either pointed at the end or rounded. 
Each plant plant has several slender, hairy stalks that lead to a pretty flower of five to nine petal-like sepals.
Fun fact- there are no true petals on these flowers, instead they're classified as sepals
"Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom."

These flowers come in a variety of colors - white, pink, purple, and blue!

*update*
A variety of other hepatica found a few days later!

Hepatica

Grouping

Hepatica Leaves

Hepatica Leaf

Purple-Blue Hepatica