Which winter annual weed is known for its purse-shaped seed pods?

• A. Chickweed
• B. Shepard's purse
• C. Foxtails
• D. Annual bluegrass

Answer: (B)

Recognizing distinctive seed pod shapes helps identify winter annual weeds in turf. Shepherd's purse is known for its small, flat, triangular to heart-shaped seed pods that resemble little purses, a very recognizable feature on the flowering stalks. This pod shape is a reliable clue that sets it apart from other common winter annuals. Chickweed has small, roundish capsules but not purse-like pods; foxtails are grasses with elongated spikelets rather than seed pods; annual bluegrass shows delicate panicles and slender seeds, not purse-shaped pods. Shepherd's purse commonly overwinters as a rosette and flowers in spring, producing those distinctive pods that persist and aid in reseeding. That purse-shaped pod makes shepherd's purse the best answer.