The basal leaves are narrow spoon shaped, with a deep or shallow feather like crack, about 3-5cm long and 1-1.5cm wide. The petiole is about 1-2cm long. The upper leaves of the stem are linear, entire or serrated. However, the basal leaves of shepherd's purse are rosette like and large headed, which are wider and wider than the former, about 12cm long and 2.5cm wide. The top lobes are oval to oblong, and the side lobes are oblong to oval. Stem leaves are narrow lanceolate or arched at base, margin serrate.
It has a raceme, about 5cm long in fruit, oval sepals, early abscission, pubescence outside, and white petals. And shepherd's purse is also raceme, but it is much longer than the former, about 20 cm, sepals are oblong, petals are ovate, but also white.
