Rivercane as a companion for cultural resource butternut plantings

Rivercane as a companion for cultural resource butternut plantings

Session: 
Poster Session
Author(s): 
ECHEVERRI, Gabriel, Ethnobotany Undergraduate Student, Frostburg State University
CHEEK, Ian,Ethnobotany Undergraduate Student, Frostburg State University
BROWN, Benjamin, Ethnobotany Undergraduate Student, Frostburg State University
SCHLARBAUM, Scott E. - Professor, Tree Improvement Program, University of Tennessee
SHARP, Ami M. - Research Associate I, Tree Improvement Program, University of Tennessee
BROSI, Sunshine L- Assistant Professor, Frostburg State University
The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation use rivercane, Arundinaria gigantea (Walter) Muhl., for a variety of culturally significant applications including double-weave baskets, arrows, building, mats, blow-guns, and flutes. Overgrazing, development of lowlands and invasive species have led to the decline of rivercane for Cherokee artisans. Rivercane is also a sister or companion plant with butternut, J. cinerea L., a tree species used by the Cherokee for masks and to dye basket splits. Butternut is also facing declines due to an introduced exotic fungus. Cultural resource plantings of butternut in Cherokee, NC through support from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation found butternut seedlings can successfully establish in existing canebrakes. Ten years post planting butternuts planted in cane were smaller in height (p < 0.001) but root collar diameters were similar (p=0.146), as was survival (p=0.070). Seedlings are already producing nuts which can be collected along with the cane by artisans.