Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Justicia ecbolium in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 15.
today: The current name for this species is Ecbolium ligustrinum (Vahl) Vollesen
original Latin description
Justicia arborea, foliis lanceolato-ovatis, bracteis ovatis deciduis mucronatis, corollarum galea reflexa.
English translation
Justicia tree-like; with leaves lanceolate-ovate; with bracts ovate, deciduous, [and] mucronate; of the corollas with a hood reflexed.
| Justicea | Justicea |
| tree-like; | arborea - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective arboreus; modifies Justicia |
| with leaves | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| lanceolate-ovate; | lanceolato-ovatis - combining form of group A adjective lanceolatus, -a, -um + ablative plural neuter of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| with bracts | bracteis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun bractea, -ae |
| ovate, | ovatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |
| deciduous, | deciduis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective deciduus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| mucronate; | mucronatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective mucronatus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |
| of the corollas | corallarum - genetive plural of first declension feminine noun corolla, -ae |
| with a hood | galea - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun galea, -ae |
| reflexed. | reflexa - ablative singular feminine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb reflecto, reflectere, reflexi, reflexum; modifies galea |