Aconite vs Yellow Dodder

Aconitum napellus compared with Cuscuta campestris

Key Differences

• Aconite is Critically Endangered while Yellow Dodder is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Aconite	Yellow Dodder
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Ranunculales (Ranunculales)	Solanales (Solanales)
Family	Ranunculaceae	Convolvulaceae
Genus	Aconitum	Cuscuta
Species	Aconitum napellus	Cuscuta campestris

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Aconite

CR — Critically Endangered

Yellow Dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Aconite	Yellow Dodder
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.

Yellow Dodder

Habitat

Inhabits montane grasslands and shrublands and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (22 countries), Asia (22 countries), Europe (33 countries), North America (Canada), Oceania and the Pacific (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile).

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 11 countries:

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