Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Justicia echioides in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 16.
today: The current name for this species is Andrographis echioides (L.) Nees
original Latin description
Justicia herbacea, foliis lanceolato-linearibus obtusis sessilibus, racemis adscendenti-secundis, bracteis setaceis.
English translation
Justicia herbaceous; with leaf blades lanceolate-linear, obtuse, [and] sessile; with racemes ascending-secund; with bracts setaceous.
| Justicia | Justicia |
| herbaceous; | herbacea - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective herbaceus, -a, -um; modifies Justicia |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| lanceolate-linear, | lanceolato-linearibus - combining form of group A adjective lanceolatus, -a, -um + ablative plural neuter of group B adjective linearis, -is, -e; modifies foliis |
| obtuse, | obtusis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective obtsus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| sessile; | sessilibus - ablative plural neuter of group B adjective sessilis, -is, -e; modifies foliis |
| with racemes | racemis - ablative plural of second declension masculine noun racemus, -i |
| ascending-secund; | adscendenti-secundis - combining form of present active participle of third conjugation verb adscendo, adscendere, adscendi, adscensum + ablative plural masculine of group A adjective secundus, -a, -um; modifies racemis |
| with bracts | bracteis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun bractea, -ae |
| setaceous. | setaceis - ablative plural feminine of group B adjective setaceus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |