Aconite vs birthwort

Aconitum napellus compared with Aristolochia clematitis

Key Differences

• Aconite is Critically Endangered while birthwort is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Aconite	birthwort
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Ranunculales (Ranunculales)	Piperales (Piperales)
Family	Ranunculaceae	Aristolochiaceae
Genus	Aconitum	Aristolochia
Species	Aconitum napellus	Aristolochia clematitis

Evolutionary Relationship

Aconite and birthwort share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Aconite

CR — Critically Endangered

birthwort

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Aconite	birthwort
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Aconite

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (12 countries) and North America (Canada, United States). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

birthwort

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate coniferous forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Algeria), Europe (13 countries), and North America (Canada, United States). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Aconite

The Aconite (Aconitum napellus) is a species in the genus Aconitum. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also fo.

birthwort

The Birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis) is a species in the genus Aristolochia. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including temperate coniferous forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are al

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 12 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇦 Canada 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States