shepherd's-purse

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• shepherd's-purse
• Shepherd's Purse
• shepherd’s-purse
• Case Weed
• Common Shepherd's-purse
• Pepper Plant
• Shepher's Tree
• shepherds purse

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nasturtium bursa-pastoris
• Rodschiedia bursa-pastoris
• Bursa bursa-pastoris
• Thlaspi bursa-pastoris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and order Brassicales, it is further categorized under the family Brassicaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Capsella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions of Northern Europe. In the northern reaches, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Finland and Iceland. It is also commonly distributed throughout the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. The species further extends its range to include the islands of Føroyaar. Finally, its geographical footprint covers significant portions of Great Britain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Capsella bursa-pastoris is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, particularly within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity has shaped the landscape. This species demonstrates an extensive vertical distribution, occupying a broad elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 4500 m AMSL. This vast altitudinal gradient allows the plant to thrive in various climatic zones, from lowland disturbed soils to alpine settings, making it a highly successful opportunistic colonizer of human-modified habitats.

Elevational range max:

4500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Capsella bursa-pastoris are characterized by a complex evolutionary history marked by frequent polyploidization events and rapid genome evolution. This species exhibits a diverse range of ploidy levels, existing primarily as a diploid, tetraploid, or hexaploid, which has facilitated its widespread ecological adaptability. Specifically, the base haploid number for this species is represented by the ploidy level n, serving as the fundamental genomic unit from which higher-order polyploid complexes arise. These varying ploidy levels contribute to significant morphological and physiological variations within populations, driving much of the species' genetic plasticity. Genomic studies indicate that the transition between different ploidy states has been accompanied by substantial changes in genome size and chromosomal rearrangements, playing a crucial role in the divergence and speciation of the Capsella lineage.

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Capsella bursa-pastoris is characterized by its classification as a therophyte, a life form that completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As an annual plant, it typically possesses a lifespan of 1 year, allowing it to rapidly exploit available resources and colonize disturbed habitats. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its vegetative structures as it completes its reproductive phase. This rapid lifecycle enables the species to persist in various environments by relying on a robust seed bank for subsequent generations.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Lifespan :

1

Morphology

The morphology of Capsella bursa-pastoris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is entirely self-supporting, functioning as an independent organism rather than a climber or parasite. It is a terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively small, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.23925 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.23925 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Capsella bursa-pastoris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, functioning without the ability to fix nitrogen. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by a rosette leaf arrangement, where the leaves exhibit an elliptic form. Morphologically, the leaves show significant variability in dimensions; the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, with a mean length of 0.575 cm. The leaf width varies from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, resulting in a mean width of 3.5 cm. Consequently, the mean leaf size is recorded at 18.42667 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 300.18 cm²/g, reflecting its metabolic efficiency and resource allocation strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

rosette

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

0.575 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

18.42667 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

300.18 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Capsella bursa-pastoris is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being notably absent. The flowering period typically commences in March and concludes in April, featuring small white flowers that utilize biotic pollination, specifically via insects. Self-fertilization is present within the species, ensuring reproductive success. Following fertilization, the plant develops dry, dehiscence-type fruit classified as a capsule. These capsules vary in size, with an average length of 0.725 cm (ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.9 cm) and an average width of 0.575 cm (ranging from 0.4 cm to 0.7 cm). Seed dispersal follows an autochorous syndrome, where seeds are released through the plant's own mechanisms. The produced seeds are minute, featuring a mean length of 1 mm and a mean width of 0.5 mm. These seeds possess a mean mass of approximately 0.00396589733333333 g, with individual seed masses ranging from 0.00005 g to 0.0002 g. In terms of volume, the seeds maintain a mean of 0.096 mm³, with values spanning from a minimum of 0.085 mm³ to a maximum of 0.11 mm³.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.725 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.575 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

2e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00396589733333333 g

Seed mass min:

5e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.11 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.096 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.085 mm³

Seed width mean:

0.5 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Capsella bursa-pastoris has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Capsella bursa-pastoris has 61 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include fumaric acid, Antioxidant, As, Ash, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

fumaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cancer research

Antioxidant

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

As

1. Chemosphere

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Bioelements

1. Nutrients

Bursine

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CD

1. Chemosphere

Diosmetin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Capsella bursa-pastoris has 454 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, 5-HT-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Acidifier.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Nutrients

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidifier

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Capsella bursa-pastoris has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Toxoplasma gondii, Wounds and injuries, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, digestive system.

Toxoplasma gondii

1. Advanced biomedical research

Wounds and injuries

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Colon cancer

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Colorectal cancer

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Digestive system

1. Nutrients

Liver fibrosis

1. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)

Vaginitis

1. Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Preparations

Capsella bursa-pastoris has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Gurgem-7, aqueous plant extracts, dietary supplement, hydroalcoholic extract.

Gurgem-7

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Aqueous plant extracts

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Dietary supplement

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Advanced biomedical research