Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Curcuma rotunda in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 2.
today: The current name for this species is Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf.
original Latin description
Curcuma foliis lanceolato-ovatis; nervis lateralibus rarissimis.
English translation
Curcuma with leaves lanceolate-ovate; with veins lateral [and] very rare.
| Curcuma | Curcuma |
| with leaves | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| lanceolate-ovate, | lanceolato-ovatis = lanceolato- [combining form of lanceolatus, -a, -um + ablative plural neuter of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| with veins | nervis - ablative plural masculine of second declension noun nervus, -i |
| lateral | lateralibus - ablative plural neuter of group B adjective lateralis, -is, -e; modifies nervis |
| [and] | added for smoother reading |
| very rare. | rarissimis - superlative degree, ablative plural neuter of group A adjective rarus, -a, -um; modifies nervis |