Common Name: Kobo Mugi

General Information

Carex kobomugi is a perennial plant with a long, stout creeping rhizomatous rootstock. It produces clusters of grass-like leaves around 10 - 20cm tall, spreading at the roots to form coloniesl74, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and is also used as an ingredient in commercil cosmetic products. It is used in projects in N. America to stabilize coastal sand dunes[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, eastern China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Sand dunes along the seacoast all over Japan[]. Seashores, riversides, sandy lakeshores[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a damp to wet soil in full sun or shade[, ]. Judging by its native habitats, the plant should be tolerant of maritime exposure[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].
A usually dioecious species[], both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seeds are required.

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[].

Seed[]. An emergency food, used when all else fails[]. The seed is very small and would be fiddly to use[].

We have no more 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:

This species has become naturalized along the Atlantic sea shores of the USA, where it is sometimes planted (often together with Ammophila breviligulata Fern.) for dune stabilisation[].
Clones of Carex kobomugi have been registered by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station for use in the long-term stabilization of coastal sand dunes[].

Other Uses

The leaves of most species in this genus can be used to make a soft, insulated bedding for sleeping on when camping etc[].

An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

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[]. Species in this genus, when 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.