Plant Name:  Deergrass

Botanical Name:  Muhlenbergia rigens

Native Name:  Suul

Height/Physical Description:  Grassy-looking bright green leaves that form a tight clump 4 feet in height and width.  Forms slender yellow flower spikes in the Fall.

Use:  Basket making.  The flower stalk of this plant was one of the primary plants used by the Cahuillan women for making baskets.

Harvesting:  The flower stalks were harvested in the Summer by the men when they encountered the plants while hunting.

Preparation:  The full stalks were used as the foundation elements around which the coils were wrapped.

Note of Interest:  According to the Cahuillan people, the locations of this plant were kept secret to prevent random collection by others.  The locations where the plant grew were often claimed as private property by individual Cahuilla to keep it protected.