Aconite vs Lesser Spearwort

Aconitum napellus compared with Ranunculus flammula

Key Differences

• Aconite is Critically Endangered while Lesser Spearwort is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Aconite	Lesser Spearwort
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order same	Ranunculales (Ranunculales)	Ranunculales (Ranunculales)
Family same	Ranunculaceae	Ranunculaceae
Genus	Aconitum	Ranunculus
Species	Aconitum napellus	Ranunculus flammula

Evolutionary Relationship

Aconite and Lesser Spearwort share a common ancestor at the Family level: Ranunculaceae.

Conservation Status

Aconite

CR — Critically Endangered

Lesser Spearwort

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Aconite	Lesser Spearwort
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.

Lesser Spearwort

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand).

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 6 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇮 Finland 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States