noun
Themeda triandra var. japonica; kangaroo grass variety
A specific variety of kangaroo grass native to Japan. Botanical term; often written in kana.
See also: 雌刈萱
かるかや（Themeda triandra var. japonica）はイネ科の植物です。
Karukaya (Themeda triandra var. japonica) is a plant of the grass family.
noun
Cymbopogon tortilis var. goeringii; lemongrass relative
A variety of grass closely related to lemongrass. Botanical term; often written in kana.
See also: 雄刈萱
雄刈萱（Cymbopogon tortilis var. goeringii）もかるかやの一種です。
Okarukaya (Cymbopogon tortilis var. goeringii) is also a type of karukaya.
noun
thatching grass; thatching sedge
General term for grasses or sedges used in thatching. This broader sense is less common than the specific botanical senses.
昔は、かるかやを屋根の材料に使った。
In the past, karukaya was used as roofing material.
Kanji spelling using 草 (kusa, 'grass'). Rare in modern usage.
Compound of 刈る (karu, 'to cut, mow') + 萱 (kaya, 'grass used for thatching'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word originally referred to grasses cut for thatching.