Pasture Watch

How to beat or eat one of the commonest weeds in the world

What is it?

Small, rampant annual, commonly found in pasture and lawns Where is it found?

All over NZ Is it toxic?

No Other uses

Used in cooking in many Asian countries

SHEPHERD'S PURSE (Capsella bursapastoris) is named for its triangular flat seedpods, which look like little purses, and is one of the most common weeds in the world.

This small, annual flowering member of the brassica can grow up to 0.5 m tall. You'll often see its flower heads and fruit in winter when other, more competitive annuals are dormant. It usually grows on and around the edges of cropping paddocks, in pasture, gardens, and lawns.

Shepherd's purse can complete its life cycle quickly, with several generations growing in one year. Its seeds can last in the soil for several decades in ideal conditions, creating an ongoing

Shepherd's purse is a 'protocarnivore'; its seeds attract and kill nematodes in the soil, helping it to germinate and establish.

infestation in affected areas.

Correctly identifying it can be tricky, unless it's showing its small white flowers. In its vegetative state, its serrated leaves look very similar to capeweed and hawksbeard.

How to control it

You can hand-weed or cultivate to control shepherd's purse if you don't want to use any chemical sprays.

Sprays containing MCPA or 2,4-D can control it, but don't use these sprays in a brassica crop.

Ask for advice from your local rural supply store. Always read the label and instructions, and apply sprays carefully.