Autumn Snowflake vs common dog-violet

Acis autumnalis compared with Viola riviniana

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Autumn Snowflake common dog-violet
Kingdom same Plantae (Plants) Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class Liliopsida (Monocots) Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order Asparagales (Asparagales) Malpighiales (Malpighiales)
Family Amaryllidaceae Violaceae
Genus Acis Viola
Species Acis autumnalis Viola riviniana

Evolutionary Relationship

Autumn Snowflake and common dog-violet share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Magnoliophyta. (Flowering Plants)

Conservation Status

Autumn Snowflake

LC — Least Concern

common dog-violet

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Autumn Snowflake common dog-violet
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Autumn Snowflake

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Norway.

common dog-violet

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (7 countries), North America (Canada), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia).

Autumn Snowflake

The Autumn Snowflake (Acis autumnalis) is a species in the genus Acis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

common dog-violet

<em>Viola riviniana</em>, the common dog-violet, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Violaceae. This species is widely distributed across Europe, including records from seven European countries, as well as Canada and Australia, where it occupies diverse terrestrial habitats such as woodlands, hedgerows, grasslands, and moorlands. The common dog-violet is characterized by its heart-shaped leaves and violet-blue, spurred flowers that typically bloom from spring through early summer. Unlike many violets, its flowers are unscented. <em>Viola riviniana</em> often spreads both by seed and vegetatively via rhizomes, forming patches in suitable habitats. This species is an important larval food plant for several fritillary butterfly species, making it ecologically significant for butterfly conservation in Britain and Europe. It generally favors well-drained, slightly acidic soils in partially shaded environments. The common dog-violet is assessed as Least Concern, with stable populations across most of its range. Its adaptation to a variety of woodland and grassland habitats contributes to its widespread occurrence.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia