Mt. Abraham
Mt. Abram Twp., Salem Twp.

Vital Statistics:

• Size: 4,033 acres
• Regulated: N/A
• Non-Regulated: N/A
• Upland: 4,033 acres
• Forested Wetland (NWI): 0 acres
• Non-Forested Wetland: 0 acres
• Open Water: 0 acres
• Roads: trails- ~4 miles
• Biophysical Region: Mahoosucs/Rangeley Lakes
• BPL Region: West

Rare Species and Exemplary Natural Community Table for Mt. Abraham Unit

Type	Common Name	Latin Name	S-RANK	G-RANK	State Status	EO-RANK
Exemplary Natural Communities	Spruce – fir – birch krummholz		S3	N/A	N/A	B
	Dwarf heath - graminoid alpine ridge		S2	N/A	N/A	C
	Diapensia alpine ridge		S1	G2G3	N/A	C
Rare Plants	Bigelow’s sedge	Carex bigelowii	S2	G5	SC	C
	Dwarf white birch	Betula x minor	S1	G3G4Q	E	B
	Lapland diapensia	Diapensia lapponica	S2	G5	SC	B
	Northern comandra	Geocaulon lividum	S2	G5	SC	B
	Alpine blueberry	Vaccinium boreale	S1S2	G4	T	B
	Hornemann’s willow-herb	Epilobium hornemannii	S1	G5	E	A
	Boreal bedstraw	Galium kamtschaticum	S2	G5	SC	H
Rare Animals	Rock vole	Microtus chrotorrhinus	S3	G4	SC	N/A

Description

The mountain's summit forms an extensive treeless ridge dominated by characteristic alpine vegetation. In fact, Mt. Abraham supports some of Maine's largest alpine habitat outside of Mt. Katahdin. Three different types of alpine communities are present, and together these rare communities provide habitat for six rare plant species. One vegetation type in particular – diapensia alpine ridge -- occurs at only two other locations in Maine.

Lower slopes of the mountain contain mature hardwood and spruce forests with little to no signs of past harvesting. Some old growth spruce stands sampled in 1997 support trees over three hundred years old. Other noteworthy natural communities include fire-dependant, open canopy spruce woodlands and birch woodlands.

A fire warden’s trail ascends from the southeast, and a spur trail extends southeast from the Appalachian Trail.

Resources

Cogbill, Charles V. 1998. An Ecological Assessment of Lands of Mead and SAPPI Corps. on Mounts Abraham and Saddleback, Maine. Appalachian Trail Conference final report.