By Jwhitmor
United States 
What is the name of this "Weed" (volunteer plant) growing in my yard at 7,400 feet elevation, Southwest Colorado? Rocky clay soil, semi-arid climate, but this spring was unusually wet. Pinion pine and juniper zone, with Gambel oak and sage (Artemesia). The plant has two kinds of leaves, chordate, perfoliate, leaves (heart shaped and circling the stem), and small fern like leaves near the base. There are flowering or seed heads that look like spikes of small ovals. No unusual odor, just "green smell" (like fresh peas). Around 2 feet tall, and seems to grow in clumps of more than one stem. Looks like some type of "cress" to me.
Thank You!
28 Jun, 2015
Answers
If it's shepherd's purse then be careful of the seeds when you pull it up. They burst and can go in your eyes. It's quite a pernicious weed.
28 Jun, 2015
I don't think it is. Shepherds purse has seed heads like hearts and also doesn't have those round leaves up the stalk. The main leaves are rather like thin dandelion ones at the base.i
28 Jun, 2015
It's a bit like Spring Beauty (Montia perfoliata), called Indian or Miner's lettuce, but the stems seem longer, though the two types of leaves seem to correspond - strange!
28 Jun, 2015
It looks similar to 'Shepherd's Purse' or Capsella bursa-pastoris, which has medicinal uses.
28 Jun, 2015