Capsella bursa-pastoris

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.

Shepherd's Purse

Shepherd's Purse is a small annual and ruderal flowering plant in the mustard family. It grows from a rosette of lobed leaves at the base and bears a stem that is typically 10–50 cm tall. The flowers are small, white, and appear in loose racemes. The plant produces flattened, two-chambered seed pods known as silicles, which are triangular to heart-shaped. It is known for its protocarnivorous seeds that attract and kill nematodes.

Details

Order:

Brassicales

Family:

Brassicaceae

Genus:

Capsella

Chemistry:

Fumaric acid has been isolated from Shepherd's Purse. The seeds contain a substance known as mucilage, which performs the function of trapping nematodes.

Uses:

Shepherd's Purse has many culinary uses, including as a food supplement and in traditional medicine to stop bleeding. It is cultivated as a commercial food crop in Asia, particularly in China and Korea. The plant can be eaten raw or cooked and is used in various dishes such as soups, congee, and stir-fries. It also has medicinal properties and is used in cosmetics.

Flowering time:

Almost all year round

Sowing time:

Plant height:

10–50 cm (4–20 in), occasionally up to 70 cm (28 in) or as little as 2 cm (3⁄4 in)

Flower color:

White

Suitable habitat:

Cultivated ground, waysides, and meadows. Common in colder climates including the British Isles, North America, China, and parts of Europe.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

Tenders

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