The word ‘verdant’ seems designed for this herbaceous perennial woodlander. Not quite all green, it has yellow flowers that emerge in winter and persist for some time amongst a mound of leaves. Beth Chatto’s website calls Sanicula epipactis ‘an endearing little plant’; I’ll add that the flowers form a cheerful congregation.
They are tiny, clustered ankle high in button-sized domes, surrounded by a collar of lime green bracts. Later, leaves push up between them, gradually unfurling as their stems lengthen.
Bracts can be surprisingly showy. These are like ruffs, each with a lightly serrated edge.
Many plants have consistent forms and symmetry – if one flower has six bracts, you can guarantee all the others in the clump do too. Sanicula epipactis is less regular. In my pictures there are from five to seven bracts per flower cluster.
Variegated forms exist – Sanicula epipactis ‘Variegata’ or ‘Thor’ – that have cream or white streaked bracts, for those who appreciate a little extra bling.
Synonyms and superseded names include:
Hacquetia epipactis (this is the name I’m most familiar with)
Astrantia epipactis
Dondia epipactis
Shared as part of Cee’s Flower Of The Day. I love her choice for today – a beautiful, creamy magnolia.
Susan Rushton 
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