HerbWildAnnual

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.)Medik.

Shepherd's Purse

Synonym: Thlaspi bursa-pastoris L

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Description

Capsella bursa-pastoris is an annual or biennial herb, usually 10–50 cm tall. It forms a basal rosette of deeply lobed leaves, while the flowering stem is erect and sparsely branched. Stem leaves are smaller and sessile. Flowers are small, white, with four petals, arranged in elongated racemes. Fruits are distinctive triangular, heart-shaped flattened siliques containing numerous tiny brown seeds.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative

Basal rosette of deeply lobed leaves.

Floral

Small white flowers in elongated racemes.

Fruit & Seed

Characteristic heart-shaped flattened siliques.

Distribution

Native range: Europe and western Asia.

Introduced range: Cosmopolitan weed throughout temperate and subtropical regions.

In Pakistan: Common throughout Pakistan.

Phenology

Flowering

Fruiting

Flowering: December–April Fruiting: January–May

Ethnobotany & Uses

Uses

Young leaves are edible and used as a leafy vegetable. Traditionally used to control bleeding, treat diarrhea, and relieve urinary disorders. A common winter weed of cultivated land.

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Where it grows on campus

This species is on the campus floristic list but was not pinned during the GPS mapping survey, so it has no map records yet.

Taxonomic Notes

Commonly known as Shepherd's Purse, this species is easily recognized by its distinctive heart-shaped fruits. It is one of the most widespread members of Brassicaceae and is accepted by Flora of Pakistan, POWO, and WFO.