

SHEPHERD'S-PURSE. 1 



Capsella bursa-pastoris. 



SPERMATOPHYTES; ANGIOSPERMSJ CRUCIFER^. 



PRELIMINARY. 



THE plant is of European origin, but has become 

 abundant in this country and elsewhere, being one of 

 those vigorous foreign species that hasten to take posses- 

 sion of any cleared or cultivated land. It is found 

 everywhere around dwellings, and in fields and waste 

 grounds. It has not only the advantage of universal 

 distribution, but also of continuous growth most of 

 the year, even a few warm days in winter calling it into 

 bloom. 



1 If toward the end of the course there is sufficient time, it will 

 be found helpful after completing this and the following exercise to 

 carry on a series of studies of plants representative of the leading plant 

 families, especially in the Angiosperms. This outline of "Shepherd's- 

 purse" will suggest the kind of work to be done in such studies. It is 

 understood that in most cases the students will not know the plant 

 studied, and consequently, at the same time that they are studying the 

 representatives of a plant family, they will also obtain some practice 

 in determining the classification of plants. It is suggested that rep- 

 resentatives be selected from such families as the Araceac, Gramineae 

 Salicaceae, Rosaceae, Malvaceae, Balsamineae, Leguminosae, Euphorbia- 

 ceae, Umbelliferae, Solanaceae, and Convolvulaceae. 



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