Very few plants are as widely distributed as this annual or winter annual. It is found in practically all cultivated areas on nearly every continent. It can recur year after year on thin turf and often becomes a problem in new seedlings. Like other members of the mustard family, shepherd's purse forms a rosette of deeply lobed basal leaves. These leaves are often confused with those of dandelion. As the plant matures, flowering branches are formed. Leaves on these branches clasp, or wrap around the stem. Shepherd's purse produces tiny flowers with four white petals. As the flowers mature, heart-shaped seed capsules are formed. These capsules, containing many seeds, resemble purses worn by shepherds in ancient Biblical times.