FIG. 17. 

 SHEPHERD'S PURSE. 



Capsella bursa-pastoris (L). 



A winter annual, naturalised from Europe, with a long, deep, tap 

 root. The root leaves are lobed and form a large rosette which lies close 

 to the ground, and in this state it passes the winter. The following 

 spring, a more or less branched stem arises, with arrow-shaped leaves 

 thereon. The flowers are very small and white in color, and are much 

 less conspicuous than the seed vessels, which are triangular in shape, and 

 are attached to the stalk or pedicel at the lower apex of the triangle. 

 From the character of these pods, the plant obtains its scientific and com- 

 mon name. The triangular pod is divided down the centre by a parti- 

 tion, forming two cells, each of which contains from 10 to 12 seeds. (Fig. 

 17, a). In size, the plant varies greatly from a few inches to two feet, 

 depending on the soil and locality. But even a very diminutive plant 

 produces many seeds. The seed is very small, light brown in color, and 

 oblong in shape, (Fig. 17). An average plant produces over 50,000 

 seeds. Fig. 17 shows shape of seed, also the arrangement of seeds in 

 the pod. 



Time of flowering, early spring till the beginning of winter. 



Time of seeding, early spring till the beginning of winter. 



Dispersal as an impurity in grass seed ; also by birds, as the pods 

 when ripe open and drop the seeds, which are eaten by birds, and often 

 evacuated without digestion or injury. 



Eradication. It easily succumbs to cultivation : and as the plant 

 spreads only by seed, persistent effort should be made to prevent seeding. 

 The method employed against the preceding weed may be used for eradi- 

 cating the Shepherd's Purse (Fig. 16). 



