Plant Details

Kumeyaay name: kwaayull

Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)

Summary of the deer grass and its traditional use:

Deer grass is an evergreen perennial bunchgrass native to central and southern California as well as other parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico.  It grows up to 4 feet tall  (5 feet when flowering) and 4 feet wide. Its leaves can vary in color from a light silver-green to purple.

The Kumeyaay scrape the flower stalk and use the scraped material as foundation in coiled baskets.

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