Taxonomic history
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Arbutus unedo in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 395 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
Today: The current name for this species is Arbutus unedo L.
original Latin diagnosis
Arbutus caule erecto, foliis glabris serratis, baccis polyspermis.
English translation
Arbutus the stem erect; with leaf blades glabrous [and] serrate; [and] with berries many-seeded.
| Arbutus | Arbutus |
| with the stem | caule - ablative singular of third declension masculine noun caulis, caulis |
| erect; | erecto - perfect passive participle, ablative singular masculine of third conjugation verb erigo, erigere, erexi, erectum; modifies caule |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| glabrous | glabris - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective glaber, glabra, glabrum; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| serrate; | serratis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective serratus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with berries | baccis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun bacca, -ae |
| many-seeded. | multispermis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective multispermus, -a, -um; modifies baccis |