Giant rye 

Scientific: Elymus condensatus 

Common: Giant rye 

Español: Carrizo 

Chumash ('alapkaswa'): štemelel 

This plant was considered by some to be strong enough to make arrow shafts for hunting small game. Houses were sometimes thatched with the plant, especially on the Channel Islands. Stems were used to make cane pipes, cane knives, paintbrush handles, and scorekeeping sticks for games, worn in pierced noses or ears, and used as straws. Drinking water boiled with the young shoots was considered a cure for gonorrhea. Some California people ate the seeds. 

Source: Chumash Ethnobotany: Plant Knowledge Among the Chumash People of Southern California by Jan Timbrook

'alapkaswa' refers to the local Chumash dialect spoken at the kaswa’ village near modern Hope Ranch.