Capsella bursa pastoris
Shepherd's Purse aka Mother's Heart, Shovel Plant, Witche's Pouches
Southern Europe

Annual or Winter Annual weed
 
4 petaled, white flowers borne on a raceme.
One of the first plants to bloom in the spring.
 
 

 

The specific epithet means pouch (bursa) of the shepherd (pastoris) referring to the triangular shaped fruit.

In the W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens at Michigan State University, the seeds of this plant have been found to survive and germinate after 35 years in the soil.

 

 
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