Aconite vs Rye Ergot

Aconitum napellus compared with Claviceps purpurea

Key Differences

• Aconite is Critically Endangered while Rye Ergot is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Aconite	Rye Ergot
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)
Order	Ranunculales (Ranunculales)	Hypocreales (Hypocreales)
Family	Ranunculaceae	Clavicipitaceae
Genus	Aconitum	Claviceps
Species	Aconitum napellus	Claviceps purpurea

Conservation Status

Aconite

CR — Critically Endangered

Rye Ergot

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Aconite	Rye Ergot
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.

Rye Ergot

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 6 countries:

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