Photo of Hepatica nobilis in flower. This is a native plant growing wild in Great Falls Park, Fairfax county Virginia, USA. This species is a member of the Ranunculaceae family. This North American population has also been categorized as Hepatica americana by some authorities, which would make it a separate species from the European Hepatica nobilis plants. There is also currently some taxonomic controversy over wether the entire genus Hepatica ought to be merged with the genus Anemone, if this takes place, the European plants would be renamed Anemone hepatica, while this population of North American plants would possibly be renamed Anemone americana.