Rare Species

Historically there have been several rare plants found in Eaton: Back's sedge (Carex backii), balsam groundsel (Packera paupercula), budding pondweed (Potamogeton gemmiparus), Douglas' knotweed (Polygonum douglasii), hairy hudsonia (Hudsonia tomentosa), small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides).  However, only two of these have been spotted in the last 20 years:  Douglas' knotweed, which is threatened in New Hampshire, and small whorled pogonia which is threatened nationally.  The New Hampshire Heritage Bureau classifies the Douglas' knotweed as a species of very high importance and the small whorled pogonia as extremely high, meanng it is a good example of a globally rare plant. 

In addition to these plants which are listed by the New Hampshire Heritage Bureau there is a parcel located in the extreme southeast corner of Eaton, where it joins with the town of Freedom and with the Maine state line, that is home to a populaiton of Three-Bird-Orchid.  This property is located in Eaton’s Town Forest Unit 4.

There are also several habitats or special woodland communities which are of themselves unique or which have the right conditions to harbor rare plants or animals.  Though detailed studies have not been done to see if rare or endangered species exist in those habitats, the habitats are special in relation to the rest in Eaton.

Unique Habitats and Natural Communities in Eaton:

        a) Summit of Foss Mountain;   This summit is capped with Pennsylvanian-Mississippian 2-mica granite and quartzite. There is a possibility for some rare plants, such as Carex cumulata since this species prefers windswept summits and granitic bedrock.

        b) Crystal Lake Shoreline;   The sandy shoreline near the beach is shallow and oligotrophic and could harbor a few state-listed rare plants such as Isoetes spp., though no studies have been done to date.

        c) Conway Lake--South Put-in;   The marshy area off Potter Road which is used as a small boat put-in has a historic occurrence of Potamogeton gemmiparus and other Potamogeton species. though the repeated use of the area by canoes and kayaks prevent these species from establishing vigorous communities.

       d) Lyman Mountain;   Down-slope and to the south of Crystal Lake is a lower cliff-talus area which is notable for the presence of Asplenium trichomanes, which is on the NH state watch list. In this old growth oak forest patch there are maidenhair ferns and likely other rare plants though studies would need to be done during the growth seasons.

        e) Atkinson Hill;   Just above Potter Road, this hill has a listed state-endangered (S1) community known as a Circumneutral Eastern Red Cedar Woodland. This site also contains one of the 12 or so populations of Polygonum douglasii,  a state-threatened annual plant species. The red cedar trees are significant as they are one of the most northerly occurrences in the state.

        f) Old Growth Forest Sections;   Several woodland plots worthy of preservation can be found in Eaton’s Town Forest Units. Among them are Unit 2, southwest of the Cobbs/Sullivan house, harboring 300+ year old hemlocks and red oaks; Unit 3 in the northeast corner, containing very old sugar maples— the very rich soil here may also be a good site to look for rare plants; Unit 5 along the southern edge, containing old spruce and hemlock, and Unit 6 north of the first bridge on Foss Mountain Road, having several large spruce trees more than 300 years old!  

There may be other unique habitats in Eaton, but few studies to identify possible sites or preservation-worthy woodland plots on private lands have yet been conducted. The unique habitats and natural communities listed above are shown on the map below.