Capsella sp.
Shepherd's purse, Shepherd's Purse
no rights reserved, uploaded by Mike Palmer · CC0
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Capsella sp. (Shepherd's purse) is a non-native California annual in the Brassicaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Lepidium: Capsella pods are triangular pointing down; Lepidium pods are round to oval.; vs Cardamine: Capsella has triangular heart-shaped pods; Cardamine has narrow cylindrical pods.; vs Lobularia: Capsella has triangular pods on stalks; Lobularia has tiny round pods pressed to stem.; vs Thysanocarpus: Capsella pods are triangular and flat; Thysanocarpus pods are round with radiating veins like a wheel.; vs Taraxacum: Capsella has small white flowers and heart-shaped pods; Taraxacum has yellow ray flowers and fluffy seed heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Capsella sp. native to California?
No. Capsella sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Capsella sp. belong to?
Capsella sp. is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Capsella.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.