Latin: Capsella bursa-pastoris
Other names: Lady’s purse, mother’s heart
Family: Brassicaceae
Shepherd’s purse is a common weed found in the United Kingdom that belongs to the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is also known as lady’s purse or mother’s heart. Shepherd’s purse is an annual plant known for its distinctive heart-shaped seed pods and clusters of small white flowers.
Identifying Shepherd’s Purse
Shepherd’s purse possesses several distinct features that help distinguish it from other similar-looking plants. The leaves of shepherd’s purse form a basal rosette close to the ground and have a lobed or toothed appearance. The stem is slender, upright, and can reach heights of up to 50 centimeters.
The flowers of shepherd’s purse are small and white, forming clusters at the top of the stems. They have four petals and six stamens. After flowering, the plant produces distinctive heart-shaped seed pods, which give rise to the common name “shepherd’s purse.”
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