Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Justicia betonica in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 15.
today: The current name for this species is Justicia betonica L.
original Latin description
Justicia fruticosa, foliis lanceolato-ovatis, bracteis ovatis acuminatis venoso-reticulatis coloratis.
English translation
Justicia shrubby; with leaves lanceolate-ovate; with bracts ovate, acuminate, veiny-reticulate, [and] colored.
| Justicea | Justicea |
| shrubby; | fruticosa - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective fruticosus, -a, -um; 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 |
| acuminate, | acuminatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective acuminatus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |
| veiny-reticulate, | venoso-reticulatis - combining form of group A adjective venosus, -a, -um + ablative plural feminine of group A adjective reticulatus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| colored. | coloratis - ablative plural feminine of perfect passive participle of first conjugation verb coloro, -are, -avi, -atum; modifies bracteis |