shepherd's purse
Definition
Noun: 1. A common annual weed: A small, herbaceous flowering plant, native to Europe but now found worldwide. It is characterized by its white flowers and distinctive, triangular, notched seed pods. 2. A plant of the mustard family: A member of the Brassicaceae family, scientifically known as Capsella bursa-pastoris.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The garden was full of shepherd's purse, its tiny white flowers dotting the soil.
- Botanists study shepherd's purse because it is a model organism for plant genetics.
- Some herbalists use shepherd's purse for its purported medicinal properties.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical or ecological contexts: The term is used precisely to identify the specific species, often discussing its role as a pioneer species in disturbed soils or its widespread distribution as a cosmopolitan weed.
- The rapid colonization of the vacant lot by shepherd's purse demonstrates its success as a ruderal species.
Variants and Related Words
- Capsella bursa-pastoris (n): The scientific Latin name for shepherd's purse.
- Mother's heart (n): A common folk name for the same plant in some regions, also referring to the shape of its seed pods.
Synonyms
- Weed (n): A general term for an unwanted plant. (Note: "Shepherd's purse" is a specific type of weed.)
- Herb (n): A plant with savory or aromatic properties. (Note: This is a broader category that includes shepherd's purse.)
Related Phrases and Idioms
- None directly associated: There are no common English idioms or phrasal verbs that specifically use the term "shepherd's purse." The name itself is a descriptive compound noun referring to the plant's seed pods, which were thought to resemble the pouches (purses) carried by shepherds.
Noun
-
white-flowered annual European herb bearing triangular notched pods; nearly cosmopolitan as an introduced weed
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