Too young a tree would not have as much substance for making the dye. Too old a tree would have a bark that would be too dry to produce any substance. The dye was made by crushing the bark on a rock. This would be infused in hot water and the material to be coloured was then soaked in the solution. The intensity of the red colouring would depend on the amount of bark added to the water.
Presence indicates safe drinking water.
The primary use of this grass was for the construction of baskets. The grass would be harvested in August and set out to dry for days in the sun. It was made sure that the strands would be laying straight so as so prevent breakage. Once dry the grass would be sorted according to length and stored until needed. The leaves formed the foundation and the rim of the basket.