Common Name: White Root

General Information

Carex barbarae is a herbaceus perennial plant producing clusters of grass-like leaves and spreading freely from its long rhizomes to form large carpets of growth. It can grow around 30 - 100cm tall[].
The plant was collected in large quantities by the native peoples, who used the root for basketry. They encouraged and tended the plants in their areas and would harvest it on a sustainable basis every 2 - 4 years[]. The plant is still a very desirable asset for basketry and, where the wild habitats still exist, the plant is commonly harvested[].
Carex barbarae is one of the most difficult plants for basket weavers in California to obtain due to the elimination of traditional gathering sites and difficulty accessing those still remaining. Valley oak riparian woodlands have diminished to less than five percent of their original range. Carex barbarae, as an understorey dominant, has been reduced even further. Many traditional gathering sites have been eliminated or destroyed. Where gathering sites still exist, access for
native people to private or public lands has been difficult[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western N. America - Oregon, California

Habitat

Riparian areas, often dominant in the understorey of oak woodland, growing in moist places by streams or on slopes, occasionally bordering marshes, on open or brush slopes and valley flats that are wet in the spring; at elevations up to 900 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Sandy, moist soils are the preferred locations for the production of long rhizomes[].
Mature plants have well-developed, deep root systems and are therefore resilient to low intensity fire[].

Edible Uses

We have no specific information for this species, but the young shoots and tender leaf bases of almost all species in this genus have a sweet flavour[]. They furnish a tasty nibble and make an excellent emergency food in the wild since they are widely available[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

With its wide ranging roots and ability to spread and cover the soil, the plant is increasingly being recommended for use in riparian restoration, streambank stabilization, and erosion control. Plants establish readily in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Adult plants produce many rhizomes each year and each rhizome can be used for revegetation. Subdivision of adult plants also results in very high plant survival and rapid colonization[].

Other Uses

Roots are used in basketry[]. The long white rhizomes provide the sewing strand in coiled baskets. Traditionally tended plants can develop rhizomes around 120 - 180cm long, whilst untended plants have short, twisted rhizomes[].

The leaves have been as a strewing material to provide a soft surface on the floor for sitting on[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in the spring in a moist soil in light shade. If seed is in short supply it can be sown in a cold frame and be planted out in the summer. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[]. Plants started from seed tend to stay diminutive for over a year, with plant leaves remaining stunted and fragile for a considerable period of time[].
Division in spring[]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.