Current status
Twinflower is found primarily on podsolic soils in the native pinewood remnants of north-east Scotland. It is also found, although much more rarely: in forestry plantations, almost always those that were planted with Scots pine; on moorland usually growing in the shade of mountain rocks; and occasionally in birch woods. It is a creeping woody perennial which is shallow-rooting and susceptible to drought. It freely regenerates vegetatively, producing clonal groups which may be self-incompatible. It requires slight shade to flower well.
Although twinflower has a favourable conservation status within Europe, its distribution in the UK has declined considerably in recent years. According to Scarce plants in Britain, the species has shown a 64% decline from pre-1970 records to those post-1970. It is found in about 50 locations from Caithness to the Borders, with a concentration of records around the Cairngorms. It was previously recorded from old pine plantings in northern England, but it is now extinct in this area and is entirely confined to Scotland.
In Great Britain twinflower is classified as Nationally Scarce. It has no special legal protection.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Mechanical harvesting of timber and ground preparation for replanting.
Unrestricted grazing by deer, sheep or cattle affecting the pinewood habitat.
Reproductive isolation of twinflower populations consisting of single clones.
Shade resulting from encouragement of dense tree regeneration.
Current action
The main habitat of twinflower is native pine woodland which is listed as a priority habitat in Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive 1992.
Twinflower is present in designated areas including the following: Abernethy Forest Reserve; Cairngorms NNR; Culbin Forest SSSI; Eastern Cairngorms SSSI; Glen Tanar NNR; Inverfarigaig SSSI; Loch Fleet SSSI; Loch Ussie SSSI; and Morrone Birkwood NNR.
Twinflower has been included as part of SNH`s Species Action Programme, in a partnership with Plantlife, Aberdeen University and latterly Edinburgh University. Under this initiative a comprehensive survey of surviving populations is being undertaken to determine their regeneration potential under present conditions.
Twinflower is in cultivation at Aberdeen University Botanic Garden, Edinburgh University and RBGE.
Action plan objectives and targets
Achieve self-sustaining populations of twinflower at 1998 levels at all extant sites.
Ensure that all populations are capable of sexual regeneration by 2010.
Restore to five sites within the historic range by 2005
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Consider, and develop prescriptions for, the introduction of twinflower into new woodland sites created by the Native Pinewood Grant Scheme, and into old pine plantations. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
Identify potential incompatabilities and integrate the actions in this plan with those actions in the pinewood action plan designed to protect, restore and expand the pinewood habitat on which this species depends. (ACTION: FA, SNH)
Site safeguard and management
Consider the representation of twinflower within the SSSI series and ensure that management prescriptions take its requirements fully into account. (ACTION: SNH)
Ensure that Caledonian Forest reserves, and other Forest Enterprise sites where twinflower is present, are managed with consideration for its ecological requirements. (ACTION: FE)
Ensure that management plans for Forest Reserves, NNRs, SSSIs and SACs where twinflower is present take account of the need to maintain viable populations of the species. (ACTION: SNH)
Ensure that where twinflower is located in plantation forests, consideration is given to modifying the management of the surrounding area to ensure the survival of the population. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
Species management and protection
Instigate measures to remedy chronic failure of fruit production in populations. (ACTION: SNH)
Reintroduce the species to five historic sites which now appear suitable to maintain a viable population. (ACTION: FE, SNH)
Advisory
Inform landowners, land managers and foresters of the presence and significance of twinflower and advise them of suitable management for its survival. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
Provide guidelines for managers of old Scots native pine plantations to maintain or restore twinflower populations. (ACTION: FC)
Future Research and Monitoring
Establish the current and past distribution of twinflower, and assess population size and sexual regeneration by encouraging and sponsoring appropriate botanical survey. (ACTION: SNH)
Develop an inventory of old Scots pine plantations of high conservation value as existing sources of twinflower or potential restoration sites. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
Assess the effect of current management practices on survival and seed-set of the species by examining existing populations. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
For a sample of populations use genetic markers to establish the distribution of clones. (ACTION: SNH)
Examine experimentally the efficacy of translocation between existing populations to overcome negative results of clonal isolation on fruit production. (ACTION: SNH)
Monitor the survival and performance of twinflower at a representative range of known sites including populations under a range of management conditions. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
Report on the value for a relatively wide-ranging species and difficulties of trying to maintain live clones or seed ex situ, primarily as material for research and as a means to encourage public awareness and to maintain the genetic diversity. (ACTION: RBGE, SNH)
Exchange information on the ecology and habitat requirements of twinflower with European counterparts and in particular on fruit production. (ACTION: RBGE, SNH)
Communications and Publicity
Ensure that the rarity of the species and threats to its survival are widely understood by woodland managers and the general public. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
Create or manage at least one accessible population in its natural habitat to increase appreciation and understanding of this attractive and threatened species, and encourage the display of the species in ex situ collections to assist this process. This will act as a 'flagship' for its habitat and will reduce botanical pressure on other populations. (ACTION: FE, RBGE, SNH)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume III: Plants and fungi (February 1999, Tranche 2, Vol III, p331)