**Scientific Classification:**
– Kingdom: Plantae
– Order: Brassicales
– Family: Brassicaceae
– Genus: Capsella
– Species: Capsella bursa-pastoris
**Synonyms:**
– Bursa abscissa (E.G.Almq.) Druce
– Bursa alandica (Almq.) Druce
– Bursa anglica (E.G.Almq.) Druce
– Bursa astoris Weber
– Bursa batavorum (Almq.) Druce
**Varieties:**
– Capsella bursa-pastoris var. heteris Shull
– Capsella bursa-pastoris var. integrifolia Farw.
– Capsella bursa-pastoris var. minor Farw.
– Capsella bursa-pastoris var. rhomboidea Shull
– Capsella bursa-pastoris var. simplex (Hus) Shull
**Geographic Distribution:**
– Found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas
– Thrives in temperate climates
– Common in fields, gardens, and disturbed areas
– Considered a weed in agricultural settings
– Adapted to a wide range of soil types
**Medicinal Uses:**
– Traditionally used for wound healing
– Contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
– Used in herbal remedies for respiratory issues
– Some studies suggest potential anti-cancer properties
– Can be consumed fresh or prepared as a tea
**History and Description:**
– Pictured and published in 1486
– Described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753
– Mentioned in William Coles’ book ‘Adam in Eden’ (1657)
– Once called ‘mothers heart’ in England and Scotland
– Grows from a rosette of lobed leaves
– Flowers are white, small, and have four petals
– Produces flattened, two-chambered seed pods
– Seeds contain mucilage and trap nematodes
– Flowers almost all year round
**Uses and Cooking:**
– Used for food, animal feed, cosmetics, and traditional medicine
– Can be eaten raw, with leaves best when young
– Native Americans used it to make a meal and beverage
– Gathered from the wild or cultivated for various purposes
– Reportedly used to stop bleeding
– Cultivated as a food crop in Asia
– Known as ‘jìcài’ in China and used in various dishes
– Ingredient in the Japanese festival dish ‘Nanakusa-no-sekku’
– Known as ‘naengi’ in Korea and used in namul
– Seeds used as a pepper substitute in colonial New England