diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/serdes.py b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/serdes.py
index 508b671..241e1b6 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/serdes.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/serdes.py
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ def _cleanup_line(line):
         return r[1:-1]
     return r
 
-def parse(s, allow_full_lines=True): # export
+def parse(s, allow_full_lines=True, root_content='root'): # export
     slog(DEBUG, "parsing", s)
-    root = StringTree('', content='root')
+    root = StringTree('', content=root_content)
     sec = ''
     for line in s.splitlines():
         slog(DEBUG, "line=", line)
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def parse(s, allow_full_lines=True): # export
         root.add(sec + '.' + cleanup_string(lhs), cleanup_string(rhs), split=split)
     return root
 
-def read(path): # export
+def read(path, root_content='root'): # export
     with open(path, 'r') as infile:
         s = infile.read()
-    return parse(s)
+    return parse(s, root_content=root_content)