Distribution 

Purple oxytropis is one of Scotland’s rarest plants. In the UK, the species is only found in Scotland. Elsewhere, it is only found in the high mountains of central Europe. In Scotland, most of its remaining populations are coastal, with its stronghold on the north mainland coast. There are a very few populations on the north-east coast, and one extremely isolated population on the Mull of Galloway, in the south-west. It’s also found near the summits of three Scottish mountains, two in Perthshire and one in Argyll.

Threats

• Habitat loss due to development
• Over-grazing – it is favoured by grazing animals
• Under-grazing – can allow scrub to expand over areas where it currently thrives
• Encroachment from scrub and trees – preferring open vegetation, this plant is threatened by scrub expansion and inappropriate afforestation. 
• Decline in pollinators – purple oxytropis is dependent on pollinators, mainly bees, to successfully reproduce. Anything impacting on these pollinators will in turn impact on the ability of purple oxytropis to survive
• Climate change – rising sea levels and coastal erosion. 

The species isn’t widely distributed enough to withstand local impacts. A recent study carried out for Plantlife concluded that it is probable that the Mull of Galloway population will become extinct if no new plants appear and highlighted the threat that a single event such as a landslip could have on the fragile population there. The isolated nature of the remaining populations means that the plants are likely to exhibit low genetic diversity and high levels of inbreeding, which will weaken them and make their future survival less likely.