🌱 Shepherd's purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris · Brassicaceae
🔍 Identify it without mistakes
A small, common crucifer instantly recognizable by its flattened, triangular heart- or purse-shaped seed pods, which give the plant its name. Basal rosette of lobed leaves resembling a miniature dandelion, with a slender flower stalk bearing tiny 4-petaled white flowers followed by the characteristic pods.
- flat, triangular purse/heart-shaped seed pods
- tiny white flowers with 4 cross-shaped petals (Brassicaceae family)
- basal leaves deeply cut into irregular teeth
- thin, erect flower stalk
- present year-round, blooming even during mild winters
⚠️ Not to be confused with
To tell them apart: the triangular, purse-like seed pod is unique and has no equivalent among common small crucifers
🍽️ Eating it
Preparation : young leaves raw in salads or cooked like spinach, with a slightly peppery taste; seeds can be used as a mustard-like condiment
💊 Healing with it
traditional hemostatic, historically one of the plants most widely used by midwives to limit bleeding after childbirth
Level of evidence : etudes-limitees (limited clinical trials suggesting a reduction in postpartum blood loss); traditional use for general hemostatic purposes — phytotherapy compilations (Althea Provence, Wikiphyto) citing obstetric clinical trials
⚠️ not recommended during pregnancy (potential oxytocic/abortifacient effect); avoid if you have a history of phlebitis or thrombosis
🪓 Other bushcraft uses
- used in traditional veterinary medicine for minor bleeding in livestock
No entry replaces a certain identification in the field, or medical advice. When in doubt: don't eat it. If ingestion is suspected: poison control or 112/911.