Aconite vs Common Crocus

Aconitum napellus compared with Crocus vernus

Key Differences

• Aconite is Critically Endangered while Common Crocus is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Aconite	Common Crocus
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Ranunculales (Ranunculales)	Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family	Ranunculaceae	Iridaceae
Genus	Aconitum	Crocus
Species	Aconitum napellus	Crocus vernus

Evolutionary Relationship

Aconite and Common Crocus share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Magnoliophyta. (Flowering Plants)

Conservation Status

Aconite

CR — Critically Endangered

Common Crocus

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Aconite	Common Crocus
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.

Common Crocus

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Found across Europe (12 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

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.

Common Crocus

<em>Crocus vernus</em>, commonly known as the common crocus or spring crocus, is a small bulbous perennial plant in the family Iridaceae. Native to Europe, it has been widely cultivated and naturalized across North America. Common crocus typically grows in alpine meadows, subalpine grasslands, and woodland edges, often emerging through snow in early spring, making it one of the earliest flowering plants of the season. The flowers are solitary and cup-shaped, appearing before the leaves, and range in color from white and lilac to deep purple. The species has long been cultivated as an ornamental plant and is one of the parents of many garden crocus cultivars. Its corms are eaten by rodents and its flowers provide an early-season nectar source for bees and other pollinators. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 11 countries:

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