Double Flowering Hepatica 2022 [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]

These were the very first Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica Discovered on April 25, 2022 in North Central, Pa. Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. I was fortunate to discover this rare colony of double flowing plants interspersed with hundreds of normally flowing Hepatica last year. In the end there were a total of 32 of these double flowering plants were found this first year[one plant would be considered an extraordinary find] There is a wonderful mystery surrounding these particular plants in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, just how they ever came to be. As they have no stamen or stigma [male and female parts] of the plant to reproduce [there are no seeds produced by these plants]. What is at work here that produces plants like these, is there some kind of genetic mutation? Only time will tell and it would be okay with me if we never know the wonderful mystery of these plants.

This is what is referred to as a "Maiden" flower. Only having stigma [female parts] and no stamens [male parts]. It is still possible for these plants to reproduce and have fruit or seeds, if it gets pollen from an adjacent flower with stamens. This plant is in the same area as the double flowering plants, I can't help but wonder if this and other maiden plants in the area are somehow responsible for the mystery of rare double flowering plants found here. Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23. Update, it is has now been confirmed that "Maiden" flowers are in fact the first step in producing Double Flowering Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. But it does not solve the mystery as to how and why these plants [Maiden and Double Flowering plants] are in this particular area.  ​

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 5-6-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 4-25-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 4-25-22  North Central, Pa.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 4-25-22  North Central, Pa.

 Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. 4-25-22  North Central, Pa.

These were the very first Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica Discovered on April 25, 2022 in North Central, Pa. Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. I was fortunate to discover this rare colony of double flowing plants interspersed with hundreds of normally flowing Hepatica last year. In the end there were a total of 32 of these double flowering plants found this first year[one plant would be considered an extraordinary find] There is a wonderful mystery surrounding these particular plants in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, just how they ever came to be. As they have no stamen or stigma [male and female parts] of the plant to reproduce [there were no seeds produced by these plants]. What is at work here that produces plants like these, is there some kind of genetic mutation? Only time will tell and it would be okay with me if we never know the wonderful mystery of these plants.

These images show the very first Double Flowering Hepatica discovered on April 25, 2022. North Central, Pennsylvania [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]