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How to Manage Pests

Identification: Weed Photo Gallery

Shepherd's-purse

Scientific name: Capsella bursa-pastoris (Family Brassicaceae)

Life stages of Shepherd's-purse top picture bottom left picture bottom right picture

Click on image to enlarge

DESCRIPTION:
Shepherd's-purse is a cool season annual weed, but may grow all year in cool coastal areas of California. Seed leaves are pale green with tiny granules on the surface. The first true leaves have smooth margins, but fourth and later leaves may be indented. The true leaves are covered with star-shaped hairs that distinguish shepherd's-purse from most other weed seedlings. Mature plants may be as tall as 20 inches (50 cm) and grow from the center of a rosette of indented and nonindented leaves. The heart-shaped seed pods make this species easy to recognize when mature.

Broadleaf ID illustration.


Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/WEEDS/shepherdspurse.html revised: March 11, 2008. Contact webmaster.