shepherd's-purse, annual herb (Capsella bursa-pastoris) of the family Cruciferae (mustard family), indigenous to Europe but now a nearly cosmopolitan weed in temperate regions. It is also called pickpocket, and both the Latin and common names derive from the peculiarly shaped triangular seed pods. A decoction from the plant, containing the alkaloid bursin, has been used medicinally as an antidysenteric, a diuretic, and a febrifuge. Capsella is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Capparales, family Cruciferae.

mermaid's purse: see ray.

Widespread lawn and roadside weed (Capsella bursa-pastoris) of the mustard family, native to the Mediterranean and now found worldwide. Growing as high as 18 in. (45 cm), it is easily recognized by its flat, heart-shaped, green fruits, borne along the branching flower stalks, which arise from a dandelion-like rosette of deeply cut or almost entire leaves at the base and bear clusters of tiny white flowers. Shepherd's purse has been much studied to understand embryogenesis (development from zygote to seedling) in flowering plants.

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fiscus(Latin; “basket”)

Treasury of the Roman emperor, so-called because the money was stored in baskets. Funds were also stored in the public treasury, the aerarium. The fiscus took in taxes from imperial provinces, forfeited property, and unclaimed lands. After Vespasian, it became independent of the aerarium and controlled most of the empire's income, supplying funds for the army and fleet, official salaries, and postal subsidies.

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