Shepherd's purse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shepherd's purse
Flowering and fruiting
Scientific classification
Genus:	Capsella (plant)
Species:	bursa-pastoris
Synonyms
List Bursa abscissa (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa alandica (Almq.) Druce Bursa anglica (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa astoris Weber Bursa batavorum (Almq.) Druce Bursa belgica (Almq.) Druce Bursa bremensis (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa brittonii (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa bursa-pastoris (L.) Shafer Bursa bursa-pastoris var. heteris Shull Bursa bursa-pastoris var. integrifolia Farw. Bursa bursa-pastoris var. minor Farw. Bursa bursa-pastoris var. rhomboidea Shull Bursa bursa-pastoris var. simplex (Hus) Shull Bursa bursa-pastoris var. tenuis Shull Bursa concava (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa divaricata (Walp.) Kuntze Bursa djurdjurae Shull Bursa druceana (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa gallica (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa germanica (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa grossa (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa heegeri (Solms) Shull Bursa hiatula (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa integrella (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa laevigata (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa mediterranea (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa occidentalis var. concava Shull Bursa occidentalis subsp. madeirae Shull Bursa orientalis Shull Bursa origo (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa patagonica (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa penarthae Shull Bursa pergrossa (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa robusta (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa segetum (E.B.Almq.) Druce Bursa sinuosa (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa sublaevigata (Almq.) Druce Bursa trevirorum (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa turoniensis (E.G.Almq.) Druce Bursa viguieri (Blaringhem) Shull Bursa viminalis (Almq.) Druce Capsella abscissa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella acutifolia Raf. Capsella aestivalis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella agrestis Jord. Capsella agrestis-rubella Paill. Capsella alandica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella algida (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella alpestris (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella altissima (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella amblodes Raf. Capsella angermannica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella anglica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella angustiloba (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella apetala Opiz Capsella austriaca Sennen Capsella autumnalis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella batavorum (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella belgica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella bicuspis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella bifida Raf. Capsella biformis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella bottnica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella bremensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella brevisiliqua (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella brittonii (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella bursa Raf. Capsella bursa-pastoris f. attenuata Hus Capsella bursa-pastoris var. bifida Crép. Capsella bursa-pastoris var. integrifolia DC. Capsella bursa-pastoris var. minor DC. Capsella bursa-pastoris var. pinnata Makino Capsella bursa-pastoris f. pinnatifida (Schltr.) Jovan.-Dunj. Capsella bursa-pastoris var. rubriflora Muschl. Capsella bursa-pastoris var. stenocarpa Crép. Capsella calmariensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella caucasica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella cavata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella collina (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella compacta (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella convexiformis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella cordata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella coroncpus (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella cuneiformis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella cuneolata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella curvisiliqua (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella cuspidata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella dentata Raf. Capsella denticulata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella difformis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella diodonta (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella divaricata Walp. Capsella druceana (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella elegans (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella emarginata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella erecta Walp. Capsella exotica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella faucialis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella foliosa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella frigida (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella fucorum (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella furcata Raf. Capsella galicica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella gallica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella germanica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella gothica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella gotlandica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella gracilescens (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella grossa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella grossotriangularis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella hanseatica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella heegeri Solms Capsella helsingica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella herjedalica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella hians (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella hiatula (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella hiemalis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella hispida Hobk. Capsella humilis Rouy & Foucaud Capsella hyrcana Grossh. Capsella incisura (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella integrella (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella integrifolia Hegetschw. Capsella integrifolia Raf. Capsella jemtlandica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella jeniseiensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella kyphosa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella lacerata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella laevigata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella lanceolatocaspica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella latisiliqua (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella lenaensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella leptoloba (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella linearis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella lingulata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella lobulata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella longiracemosa Sennen Capsella longirostris (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella longisiliqua (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella lulensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella lutetiana (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella macroclada (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella matura (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella mediterranea (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella microcarpa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella monasterialis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella nanella (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella nylandica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella obovata (Östman) Almq. Capsella obtusa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella odontophylla (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella oelandica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella origo (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella oviculata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella ovifera (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella pastoralis Dulac Capsella pastoris Rupr. Capsella patagonica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella penarthae (Shull) Wilmott Capsella perconcava (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella perdentata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella pergrossa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella perhians (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella perversa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella pinnata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella pinnatofoliosa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella poimenobalantion St.-Lag. Capsella polymorpha Cav. Capsella praecox Jord. Capsella praematura (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella prionophylla (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella provincialis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella querceti (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella ramselensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella rhenana Almq. Capsella rhombea (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella robusta (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella rubella (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella rubelliformis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella rubelloagrestis Paill. Capsella rubiginosa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella ruderalis Jord. Capsella salinula (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella savonica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella scanica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella scoliocaspica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella segetum (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella seleniaca (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella semilobata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella semirubella (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella sinuatolinearis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella sinuosa (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella smolandica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella stenocarpa (Crép.) Hobk. Capsella stenocarpa Timb.-Lagr. Capsella subalgida (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella subalpina (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella subarctica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella subbergiana (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella subcanescens (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella subcavata (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella subseleniaca (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella tenerescens (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella tibelensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella tjustiana (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella trevirorum (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella triangularis St.-Lag. Capsella turoniensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella umensis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella ursina (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella varia (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella vestrogothica (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella viguieri Blaringhem Capsella viminalis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Capsella virgata Jord. Capsella viridis (E.B.Almq.) E.B.Almq. Crucifera capsella E.H.L.Krause Iberis bursa-pastoris Crantz Lepidium bursa-pastoris Willd. Nasturtium bursa-pastoris (L.) Roth Opizia bursoides Raf. Rodschiedia bursa-pastoris (Medik.) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Schreb. Thlaspi bursa-pastoris L. Thlaspi cuneatum Stokes Thlaspi infestum Salisb. Thlaspi schrankii J.F.Gmel.

Capsella bursa-pastoris, known as shepherd's purse because of its triangular flat fruits, which are purse-like, is a small annual and ruderal flowering plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is native to eastern Europe and Asia minor, but is naturalized and considered a common weed in many parts of the world, especially in colder climates, including British Isles, where it is regarded as an archaeophyte, North America and China, but also in the Mediterranean and North Africa. C. bursa-pastoris is the second-most prolific wild plant in the world, and is common on cultivated ground and waysides and meadows.

Scientists have referred to this species as a 'protocarnivore', since it has been found that its seeds attract and kill nematodes as a means to locally enrich the soil.

Description

Rosette (a), pointed leaves, flowers (c–e), pods (i, k)

Capsella bursa-pastoris plants grow from a rosette of lobed leaves at the base. From the base emerges a stem about 0.2–0.5 m (0.66–1.64 ft) tall, which bears a few pointed leaves which partly grasp the stem. The flowers, which appear in any month of the year in the British Isles, are white and small, 2.5 mm (0.098 in) in diameter, with four petals and six stamens. They are borne in loose racemes, and produce flattened, two-chambered seed pods known as siliques, which are triangular to heart-shaped, each containing several seeds.

Like a number of other plants in several plant families, its seeds contain a substance known as mucilage, a condition known as myxospermy. Recently, this has been demonstrated experimentally to perform the function of trapping nematodes, as a form of 'protocarnivory'

Capsella bursa-pastoris is closely related to the model organism such as Arabidopsis thaliana and is also used as a model organism, due to the variety of genes expressed throughout its life cycle that can be compared to genes that are well studied in A. thaliana. Unlike most flowering plants, it flowers almost all year round. Like other annual ruderals exploiting disturbed ground, C. bursa-pastoris reproduces entirely from seed, has a long soil seed bank, and short generation time, and is capable of producing several generations each year.

Taxonomy

It was formally described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal publication Species Plantarum in 1753, and then published by Friedrich Kasimir Medikus in Pflanzen-Gattungen (Pfl.-Gatt.) on page 85 in 1792.

Capsella bursa-pastoris subsp. thracicus (Velen.) Stoj. & Stef. is the only known subspecies.

William Coles wrote in his book, Adam in Eden (1657), "It is called Shepherd's purse or Scrip (wallet) from the likeness of the seed hath with that kind of leathearne bag, wherein Shepherds carry their Victualls [food and drink] into the field."

In England and Scotland, it was once commonly called 'mother's heart', which is derived from a child's game/trick of picking the seed pod, which then would burst and the child would be accused of 'breaking his mother's heart'.

Uses

Capsella bursa-pastoris gathered from the wild or cultivated has many uses, including for food, to supplement animal feed, for cosmetics, and in traditional medicine—reportedly to stop bleeding. The plant can be eaten raw; the leaves are best when gathered young. Native Americans ground it into a meal and made a beverage from it.

Cooking

It is cultivated as a commercial food crop in Asia. In China, where it is known as jìcài (荠菜; 薺菜) it is commonly used in food in Shanghai and the surrounding Jiangnan region. It is stir-fried with rice cakes and other ingredients or as part of the filling in wontons. It is one of the ingredients of the symbolic dish consumed in the Japanese spring-time festival, Nanakusa-no-sekku. In Korea, it is known as naengi (냉이) and used as a root vegetable in the characteristic Korean dish, namul (fresh greens and wild vegetables).

Shepherd's purse was used as a pepper substitute in colonial New England.

Chemistry

Fumaric acid is one chemical substance that has been isolated from C. bursa-pastoris.

Parasites

Parasites of this plant include:

• White rust Albugo candida
• One species of downy mildew Hyaloperonospora parasitica

See also

In Spanish: Bolsa de pastor para niños