Difference between mud cabbage and shepherd's purse

1. Differences in petals

The petals of mud cabbage are purple or red, and are filamentous, about 1 cm long.

The petals of shepherd's purse are usually white, open in a cross shape, obovate, and about 2.5 mm in diameter.

2. Difference of blades

The leaves of mud cabbage are oblanceolate, or oblanceolate-elliptical, generally about 7-21 cm in length, with a triangular top fissure and 7-8 pairs of lateral lobes.

The leaves of shepherd's purse are generally 12 cm long, and the terminal lobes are very large, ovate to oblong. There are 3-8 pairs of lobes, which are very small.

3. Height Difference

Mud cabbage can grow to about 100 cm. The stem is solitary, rarely clustered, and very slender. The upper part often has branches, and a few are unbranched.

Shepherd's purse grows relatively low, usually half the height of the former, and its stem is upright, branched, or simple-hairy.