Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) seeds

The incredibly diverse family of the cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae) is where Shepherd's Purse hails from, and it is just as versatile as many other related cabbages or kales. Its home is difficult to locate since it is found almost everywhere in the world and can cope with almost any soil condition. It grows in acidic soil, on the roadside, between pavement joints, and virtually anywhere where it can be easily overlooked, as long as there is enough sun. It even partially removes the salt from very saline soils, making them usable for other plants.

The shepherd's purse produces an enormous number of seeds, spreads, and sows itself continuously so that it can form up to four generations per year as an annual plant. Because of its unassuming character and explosive growth, it is often wrongly perceived as a weed.

Culinary uses of the shepherd's purse are the use of leaves similar to cress or wild cabbage, the consumption of the raw or roasted seeds, the use of the whole seed capsules as a spice for cooking, and much more. These fruits, which look like small hearts (or like the purse of a shepherd), can be eaten raw and have a nutty, spicy taste which is perfect for salads and cream cheese seasoning. It has been historically used as a substitute for mustard and also contains the healthy mustard oil glycosides. It is a rather common vegetable in various Asian cuisines.

As a medicinal plant, the herb is recommended for the treatment of minor wounds and nose bleeds, but also for internal use as tea. It is labour-inducing and should not be consumed during pregnancy.

A special feature of the plant is its carnivorous seeds, which can be used as an insecticide. If they are immersed in water, they attract flies that stick to the sticky surface of the shepherd's purse's seeds and die. Also, insect larvae can be combatted with a preparation made from the seeds.