Nature

Taxonomic classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Saccharum Species: S.officinarum Saccharum consists of six species of perennial grasses. Two are wild species and four are cultigens. The cultivated species cannot survive for a long period in the wild state. S.officinarum is a tall perennial grass with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that is rich in sugar. Morphological characters Stem: The stem is solid and also known as the ‘cane’ or ‘culm’. The cane is a series of joints, both above and below ground. Each joint consists of a node and inter node , with a vegetative bud at the node, a band of root primordial and above this a narrow meristematic zone or a growth ring. On the joints above ground, leaves develop, while roots and buds remain dormant. On the joints below ground,  inter nodes  are shorter and the leaves are represented by rudimentary le...

Taxonomic classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Species: S.bicolor S. bicolor is a vigorous, annual grass with a single stem, reaching about 0.5-6m in height. Tillers are produced in some cultivars. Morphological characters Stem: The plant has a solid stem, which is usually erect. The axillary buds at lower nodes may produce tillers and higher nodes may produce branches. Root: Adventitious fibrous roots are produced from the lowest node of the stem. The stem has a band of root primordia. The root primordia that locate near the base of the plant grow out to produce prop roots. Leaves: Leaves are erect at first and later curving. The leaf arrangement is alternate in two ranks. The leaf sheath has overlapping margins that encircle the stem. Short white hairs are present near attachment to node. The Ligule is short and about 2mm long. Auricles are triangular or lanceolate. The leaf lamina i...

Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Zea Species: Z. mays Z. mays are a highly variable species. Many cultivars are recognized in different parts of the world, belonging to various grain types. The plant is a stout, annual grass, usually consisting of a single stem of 1-4m height. Sometimes, the plant can produce one or more tillers. Morphological Characters Stem: The stem is solid and usually 2-3m high, with clearly defined nodes and internodes. Internodes are short and thick at base, being longer and thicker higher up and then tapering to end up with the terminal male inflorescence. Buds in the leaf axils of the three lowest nodes may grow out to produce tillers. Buds in the axils of the higher leaves may grow in to female inflorescences, but only one or two develop. Leaves: Leaves are arranged alternatively at nodes. The leaf sheath is entire below, split a...

Taxonomic classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: oryza Species: O.sativa Rice is one of the most-consumed cereal grains in the world and the staple food of the world’s human population, especially in East, South and Southeast Asia. Rice is the major agricultural crop in Sri Lanka grown in an annual extent of 816,715ha with a production of 3,131,079mt (2007). Three subspecies are recognized in Oryza sativa, which were originally identified as geographical races, namely indica, japonica and japonica. The subspecies indica is mainly cultivated South East Asia and Philippines. Areas which grow japonica are Japan, South Korea, North China and some other places in the West. Javanica is mainly grown in Indonesia. The indika rices are usually tall, leafy, high-tillering and lodged easily. There are many rice cultivars growing in Sri Lanka, basically classified on the size, shape and textur...

Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliphyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Vigna Species: V.unguiculata V.unguiculata is an erect, prostrate or climbing annual herb. It has a tap root with numerous laterals with large, globular root nodules. Morphological characters Stem: Stems are quite variable in morphology. There may be plants with erect or sub-erect, procumbent or twining stems, may be tinged purple. Leaves: Leaves are trifoliate and the petiole is stout and grooved. Stipels are inconspicuous. Leaflets are usually entire, but sometimes slightly lobed. The lateral leaflets are oblique. Flowers: inflorescences are axillary with a few flowers crowded near tip in alternate pairs in thickened nodes. Usually 2-4 flowers present in a single inflorescence. Peduncles are stout, grooved and usually exceeding the length of the leaf. A cushion-like nectary...

Taxonomic classification Kingdom: Planatae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Vigna Species: V.radiata V.adiata is considered as the most wholesome among the pulses. Morphological characters  Stem: The plant is an erect or sub-erect, hairy annual herb with a deep root system and many branches. Leaves: the leaves are alternate, trifoliate and have long petioles. The stipules and the leaflets are ovate. Flowers: The inflorescence is an axillary raceme; 10-20 flowers clustered at the top. The calyx bracts are as long as the calyx. The corolla is yellow. Fruit: The pod is long and slender with short hairs with 10-15 seeds. It turns to grey or brownish when matured. The seeds are small, globose and usually green.