Plant Name
Scientific Name: Capsella bursa-pastoris
Synonyms: Bursa bursa-pastoris, B. gracilis, Capsella rubella, Thlaspi bursa-pastoris
Common Name: Shepherd's Purse
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Introduced
Habitat: Riparian. This weed can be found growing in lawns and other irrigated areas. It is equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands.
Flower Color: White
Flowering Season: Spring
Height: To 20 inches (51 cm) tall
Description: The tiny, 4-petaled flowers are clustered on slender flower stalks. The flowers are followed by distinctive heart-shaped seedpods. The leaves are in a basal rosette and are green, oblanceolate, and often pinnately lobed or dissected.
Special Characteristics
Edible – The entire plant is edible, but the leaves are most often used. The young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as greens. The older leaves are more peppery.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Dilleniidae
Order: Capparales
Family: Brassicaceae – Mustard family
Genus: Capsella Medik. – capsella
Species: Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. – shepherd's purse
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