Historic River Cane

Historic River Cane. The Children's Garden. , River cane (Arundinaria gigantean) is the only native American bamboo, and it is the "reed" that gave the Reedy River its name. Found in flood plains throughout the southeastern United States, it is a member of the Grass family (Poaceae), and grows to over 25 feet in height. A smaller subspecies called switch or mountain cane (Arundinaria gigantea tecta grows to about 4 feet high. Like all grasses, river cane blooms and produces seeds, but only does so infrequently (sometimes as long as 50 years between blooms). Cane reproduces by spreading underground with rhizomes and putting up new shoots every 12 to 18 inches. , Archaeological records indicate that Native American people began to use river cane nearly 9000 years ago. Because it is found in such a wide range of sizes and because it can be manipulated in a variety of ways, river cane was one of their most important plant species. It was used for arrows, spears, blowguns, baskets, sleeping and work mats, and even woven into the walls of lodges. Native Americans may have even planned the relocation of their villages around the abundance of river cane. When they began to deplete the canebrakes (thickets of river cane) near a particular village, they would begin nearly a year ahead to prepare for their new move to a lush and healthy canebreak. When they rebuilt their homes in the new location, they cut the black locust saplings in the canebreak for lodge poles and then cane to weave between the poles to pack with mud and form the walls. , Early explorers of the southeast recounted seeing thick canebreaks many miles across. These canebreaks were likely maintained by fires set by the Indians who learned that fire killed off most competing plant species and made a healthier canebreak. Many species of animals thrived in the canebreak, such as bear and bison and even the Carolina Parakeet. Early white settlers grazes cattle and horses in canebreaks which was comparable to the finest pastures. While the great canebreaks are gone today, you can still find small canebreaks along rivers and streams throughout its range, and many people are again learning the value of river cane in preventing erosion of stream banks and providing wildlife habitat. Almost everywhere you see river cane today, there is evidence of Native American habitation nearby. , Here, we have replanted historic river cane so that it will stabilize the river banks, be a home for animals, and be discovered and studied by the children who visit the garden.