Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.
Family: Brassicaceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Thlaspi bursa-pastoris L.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
shepherd's-purse
Primary Disseminule Type
seed
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Fruit a many-seeded, glabrous, dehiscent silicle, triangular-heart-shaped, strongly compressed perpendicular to narrow septum, (3)4–9(10) mm long x (2)3–7(9) mm wide.
Seed elliptic-oblong to obovate in outline, sometimes mildly curved, compressed, cross-section oblong, 0.8–1.2 mm long x 0.4–0.6 mm wide x 0.2–0.4 mm thick, appearing puckered at hilar end, with a groove on each face tracing an ellipse near the hilar end of the seed outlining the bent positions of the radicle and cotyledons. Surface glabrous, reticulate in rows, appears rough, shiny, dark reddish-brown to golden brown with a darker (sometimes black) hilar end.
Hilum in a notch, white funiculus often present.
Embryo bent, cotyledons incumbent, endosperm lacking.
Similar Species
See Similar Species Comparison Chart and compare to seeds of Lepidium.
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI