Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, simple or sparingly branched.
- Leaves
- Alternate, clasping, pair of ear-like lobes at base; basal leaves in rosette, simple, oblong, 2 to 4 inches long, deeply lobed; stem leaves smaller, lanceolate to linear, margins entire to toothed.
- Inflorescence
- Raceme, crowded, elongates as plant matures.
- Flower
- Small, white; sepals 4, short-oblong, 1/12 inch long; petals 4, white, egg-shaped, twice as long as sepals; stamens 6, short; stalks spread widely at maturity.
- Fruit
- Pod, heart-shaped, flat, triangular.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Waste areas, lawns, gardens, barnyards, cultivated fields, and roadsides.
- Distribution
- Throughout Kansas, but more common in eastern 2/3.
Practical Information
- Forage Value
- Birds will consume the seeds and poulty relish the early foliage.
- Uses
- The leaves have been used in salads and the seeds substituted for mustard. Several Native America tribes used this plant to treat dysentery.
Additional Notes
Comments
This common weed is one of the first plants to flower in the spring. Up to 40,000 seeds can be produced by a single plant. The seeds remain viable for many years. The name comes from the resemblance of the fruit to purses carried by shepherds.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Brassicaceae - Mustard Family
- Life Span
- Annual
- Height
- 4-20 inches
- Origin
- Introduced
- Last Updated
- 2007-11-07
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: March, April, May, June