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*Capsella bursa-pastoris (Linnaeus) Medikus. Common Shepherd's Purse. Phen: Feb-Jun. Hab: Fields, roadsides, gardens, disturbed areas. Dist: Native of Europe.

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Taxonomy Comments: C. rubella Reuter, Pink Shepherd's Purse, is sometimes distinguished (as by F, G, Stace 2010), and occurs in our area. It is alleged to be diploid (vs. tetraploid), to have pink petals 1-2 mm long (vs. white, 2-3 mm long), and lateral margins of the fruit concave (vs. straight to convex). Al-Shehbaz (1986) considered the character correlations to be poor, not warranting taxonomic recognition.

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Fl4, FNA7, GBI2, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Al-Shehbaz (1986a), Rollins (1993); = Bursa bursa-pastoris (L.) Britton – S, S13; > Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. – G, Stace (2010); > Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. var. bifida Crép. – F, Tat; > Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. var. bursa-pastoris – F, Tat; > Capsella gracilis Gren. – F; > Capsella rubella Reut. – F, G, Stace (2010)

Links to other floras: = Capsella bursa-pastoris - FNA7

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Evan Raskin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect annual of fields, roadsides, gardens and disturbed areas. A native of Europe that now occurs throughout North America.

Stems: Stems arising from winter rosette of basal leaves about 9 in. across, sometimes branched, hairy.

Leaves: Basal leaves elliptic-lance-shaped in outline, to 4 in. long, most of them deeply pinnately lobed; stem leaves smaller and widely spaced, clasping the stem and toothed or entire.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in cylindric terminal racemes to 12 in. long, those at the bottom opening first; white, less than 1/8 in. wide, with 4 tiny petals.

Fruits: Fruit a flattened, heart-shaped pod on a long stalk.

Comments:

Height: 4-20 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect annual of fields, roadsides, gardens and disturbed areas. A native of Europe that now occurs throughout North America.

stems: Stems arising from winter rosette of basal leaves about 9 in. across, sometimes branched, hairy.

leaves: Basal leaves elliptic-lance-shaped in outline, to 4 in. long, most of them deeply pinnately lobed; stem leaves smaller and widely spaced, clasping the stem and toothed or entire.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in cylindric terminal racemes to 12 in. long, those at the bottom opening first; white, less than 1/8 in. wide, with 4 tiny petals.

fruits: Fruit a flattened, heart-shaped pod on a long stalk.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southern Europe