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Medicinal: A combination of roots and leaves was made into a tea as a diuretic. An infusion was made to be used as an emetic. The combination also was used as a full body wash.

Basketry: The reeds were used in basketry, and a mat was made from them for the leaching of acorn “meal”.

The stalks and stems were made into a mat by Shamans for the storage of their ceremonial bundles. The stalks also were used in basketry.

Dye: The stems provided a brown dye and also depending on the length of steeping a yellow-green dye.

One legend speaks about Coyote making a “mourning figure” of Weywot when Weywot died. Coyote searched for the right plant to use. He found seaweed, brought it to Lake Big Bear ( Lake Baldwin ) where Weywot lay. By the time Coyote arrived, the seaweed had hardened into “soar”, and thus the “mourning figures” carried in procession on the Winter solstice ceremony are partly made of “soar”.

A perennial reed.

Blossoming May to June.

Soar can be found in wet places, below 6500 ft.; many plant communities.