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NAME: Sheperd’s Purse

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Capsella Bursa-Pastoris / Brassicaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): 

CONDITIONS: sun
 

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW/COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots
Leaves		pepper/mustard	RAW/COOK	Spring/Summer
Buds/Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Seeds	Pods	pepper/mustard	RAW/COOK	Spring/Summer
Nuts
Pods
Stalk/Stem
Bark

 

PORTION: small

 

COMMENT/CAUTION:  Easier to identify from other cresses due to its triangular shaped seed pods. CAUTION: https://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Capsella+bursa-pastoris

 

CAUTION: As with any hot and spicy food, eat in moderation.

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: The leaves contain about 2.9% protein, 0.2% fat, 3.4% carbohydrate, 1% ash. They are rich in iron, calcium and vitamin C.  Antiscorbutic;  Astringent;  Cancer;  Diuretic;  Emmenagogue;  Haemostatic;  Homeopathy;  Hypotensive;  Oxytoxic;  Stimulant;  Vasoconstrictor;  Vasodilator;  Vulnerary.(1) 

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES: Insecticide;  Oil;  Soil reclamation. The seed contains 35% of a fatty oil. The seed, when placed in water, attracts mosquitoes. It has a gummy substance that binds the insects mouth to the seed. The seed also releases a substance toxic to the larvae. ½ kilo of seed is said to be able to kill 10 million larvae. Plants can be grown on salty or marshy land in order to reclaim it by absorbing the salt and 'sweetening' the soil. (1)

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Capsella+bursa-pastoris
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsella_bursa-pastoris
3. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/sheppards-purse.html  (good photos)
4. http://www.ediblewildfood.com/shepherds-purse.aspx  (good photos)
5. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Capsella_bursa-pastoris (good photos)