Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz vs Bachnelkenwurz

Geum urbanum compared with Geum rivale

Key Differences

• Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz is Least Concern while Bachnelkenwurz is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz	Bachnelkenwurz
Kingdom same	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order same	Rosales (Rosenartige)	Rosales (Rosenartige)
Family same	Rosaceae (Rose Family)	Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Genus same	Geum	Geum
Species	Geum urbanum	Geum rivale

Evolutionary Relationship

Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz and Bachnelkenwurz share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Geum.

Conservation Status

Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz

LC — Least Concern

Bachnelkenwurz

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz	Bachnelkenwurz
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

Bachnelkenwurz

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

Gewöhnliche Nelkenwurz

The Avens (Geum urbanum) is a species in the genus Geum. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Bachnelkenwurz

Chocolate Root (Geum rivale), also called Water Avens or Indian Chocolate, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Rosaceae, native to cool, moist habitats across Europe, northern Asia, and North America, where it grows in wet meadows, fens, stream banks, and damp woodlands. It produces pinnate leaves with a large terminal leaflet and drooping, nodding flowers whose petals are cream to pink and surrounded by distinctive purplish-red sepals giving the flower a nodding, bell-like appearance when closed. The nodding habit is an adaptation for rain-pollination avoidance, and fertilised flowers develop achene fruits topped with hooked styles for animal dispersal. The name Chocolate Root refers to the aromatic rhizome, which has been used traditionally as a chocolate-like flavouring in beverages and as a medicinal herb with astringent and tonic properties. The IUCN classifies Geum rivale as Extinct in certain regional contexts — notably in some lowland British localities where wetland drainage, river modification, and agricultural intensification have eliminated populations — though the species remains widespread and Least Concern across its global range. Its continued survival depends on the protection of wetland habitats, and it is used as an indicator of ancient, species-rich wetland communities of conservation importance.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 7 countries:

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