shepherd's purse

shepherd's purse
shepherd's purse
n.
a small weed (Capsella bursa-pastoris) of the crucifer family, with triangular, pouchlike pods

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Widespread lawn and roadside weed (Capsella bursa-pastoris) of the mustard family, native to the Mediterranean and now found worldwide.

Growing as high as 18 in. (45 cm), it is easily recognized by its flat, heart-shaped, green fruits, borne along the branching flower stalks, which arise from a dandelion-like rosette of deeply cut or almost entire leaves at the base and bear clusters of tiny white flowers. Shepherd's purse has been much studied to understand embryogenesis (development from zygote to seedling) in flowering plants.

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▪ plant
      (Capsella bursa-pastoris), weed, of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), worldwide in distribution, but native to the Mediterranean region. This widespread lawn and roadside weed, most conspicuous in the spring, is distinguished for its flat, heart-shaped, green fruits that are borne along the inflorescence stalks. The terminal clusters of tiny, four-petalled flowers are white. Below the seeds are small, arrow-shaped, clasping stem leaves. The branching inflorescence arises from a dandelion-like rosette of deeply cut or almost entire basal leaves. The plants sometimes reach 45 cm (18 inches) in height.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Shepherd's purse — Shepherd Shep herd, n. [OE. schepherde, schephirde, AS. sce[ a]phyrde; sce[ a]p sheep + hyrde, hirde, heorde, a herd, a guardian. See {Sheep}, and {Herd}.] 1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shepherd's purse — n. a small weed (Capsella bursa pastoris) of the crucifer family, with triangular, pouchlike pods …   English World dictionary

  • shepherd's-purse — /shep euhrdz perrs /, n. a European weed, Capsella bursa pastoris, having white flowers and purselike pods, naturalized in North America. [1400 50; late ME] * * * shepherd s purseˈ noun A cosmopolitan cruciferous weed with flat obcordate pods… …   Useful english dictionary

  • shepherd's-purse — trikertė žvaginė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Bastutinių šeimos daržovinis, maistinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Capsella bursa pastoris), paplitęs visame pasaulyje. atitikmenys: lot. Capsella bursa pastoris angl. shepherd s purse vok …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • shepherd's purse — noun A weed, Capsella bursa pastoris, family Brassicaceae, native to Europe but now found world wide. Stewed nettles; savoury messes of chickweed sprinkled with nutmeg; he cooks the foliage of shepherds purse as if it were cabbage …   Wiktionary

  • shepherd's-purse — shep′herd s purse′ n. pln a weed, Capsella bursa pastoris, of the mustard family, with white flowers and purselike pods • Etymology: 1400–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • shepherd's purse — /ʃɛpədz ˈpɜs/ (say shepuhdz pers) noun an annual or biennial cruciferous plant, Capsella bursa pastoris, with pinnatifid basal leaves, a slender stem, small white flowers and purse like pods; native to western Asia …  

  • shepherd's purse — noun white flowered annual European herb bearing triangular notched pods; nearly cosmopolitan as an introduced weed • Syn: ↑shepherd s pouch, ↑Capsella bursa pastoris • Hypernyms: ↑crucifer, ↑cruciferous plant • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • shepherd's purse — noun Date: 15th century a white flowered weedy annual herb (Capsella bursa pastoris) of the mustard family with flat heart shaped pods …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • shepherd's-purse — /shep euhrdz perrs /, n. a European weed, Capsella bursa pastoris, having white flowers and purselike pods, naturalized in North America. [1400 50; late ME] * * * …   Universalium

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