"Mount Toby" is not very significant by itself, biologically or historically. The only population of Ram's Head Lady's Slipper left in Massachusetts is actually on Clark Mtn., a south peak of the massif. The other population recently ruined was on Roaring Brook Mtn. The last records of very rare plants like Showy Lady's Slipper, Putty Root, Short-styled Sanicle, and so on are all from peaks other than Toby. The other peaks of the massif, almost entirely in Sunderland, are far more diverse biologically than Toby itself. Drs. Brown and Folsom, Wild ORchids of the Northeast are references for ram's head (C. arietinum) lady's slipper. NEWFS records and DCR records of town-by-town confirmed sightings are my reference for the others, and many more.

The forests are most diverse on the southern end of the massif, from South Mountain onward. Roaring Brook, Ox Hill, Bull Hill, and Clark Mtn, have hte most diverse geology.

The Nipmuc original name for the massif is "Kunckwatchu, or Kuncquadju" from "kunuku-adchu" meaning "dark-mineral-bearing small-land." The massif was the lineage property of Mishalisk, a clan mother, who in desperate oppression relented to leasing the resources to Colonists. My reference is the Springfield archive of First Nations land deeds, recorded at time of lease, re-recorded in the 1830's, and digitized in the 1900's. Her two sons owned North Mattampash and Acquinnick, now North Sunderland and North Hadley.