Capsella bursa-pastoris
Scientific Name | Capsella bursa-pastoris |
---|---|
Common Names | English: Shepherd's-purse; German: Hirtentäschel, French: Capselle bourse à pasteur; Spanish: Bolsa de pastor; |
Description | Annual or hardy-annual (facultative biennial), seed-propagated weed with many forms and spindle-shaped root. |
Gallery

Descriptions
Characteristic Features
Young plant rosulate with white flowers. Heart-shaped flat and triangular fruit (shepard's purse).
Cotyledons
Oblong-oval, very small, short-petiolate, prostrate.
Stems
Erect, simple or projectingly ramified, up to 50 cm (19.68 inch) high.
Leaves
Initially orbicular or spoon-shaped, first leaf usually entire; following leaves oblong, dentate or sinuately lobed to deeply incised, all petiolate.
Stalk leaves lanceolate, often undivided, sagittate sessile.
Propagation Organs
Flowers
Small, white, in terminal, umbellately compacted inflorescence.
Flowering Period
Almost all year round.
Fruit
Heart-shaped flat and triangular pod, 4-9 mm (0.16 - 0.35 inch) long, slightly lobed at the base.
Seeds
Germination occurs almost all year round, especially in autumn. Seeds are light brown and almost smooth.
Viability of Seeds
16-35 years.
Propagation
C. bursa-pastoris is a shallow germinator partly with two generations per year.
2,000-40,000 seeds/plant.
Occurrence
Habitat
Fields, gardens, ways, cultivated beds.
Soil
Shepard's purse has few demands on soil but prefers friable soil.
Additional Crop Information
Almost all crops, mainly row crops, oil seed rape and cereals (spring and winter cereals).
Agricultural Importance
C. bursa-pastoris is commonly found in practically all crops. Normally it only leads to low yield reduction and does not interfere with combine harvesting, however large infestations can significantly decrease crop yield and quality.
Shepard's purse can also serve as a host for nematodes.
Control
Useful non-chemical contribution to Integrated Weed Management
Mechanical weeding often suppresses this weed species.
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