Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Justicia purpurea in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 16.
today: The current name for this species is Justicia purpurea L.
original Latin description
Justicia foliis ovatis utrinque mucronatis integerrimis glabris, caule geniculato, spicis secundis.
English translation
Justicia with leaf blades ovate, at both ends mucronate, entire, [and] glabrous; with a stem bent, [and] with spikes secund.
| Justicea | Justicea |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| ovate, | ovatis - ablative pural neuter of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| at both ends | utrinque - adverb; modifies mucronatis |
| mucronate, | mucronatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective mucronatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| entire, | integerrimis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective integerrimus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| glabrous; | glabris, - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective glaber, glabra, glabrum; modifies foliis |
| with a stem | caule - ablative singular of third declension masculine noun caulis, caulis |
| bent; | geniculato, - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective geniculatus, -a, -um; modifies caule |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with spikes | spicis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae |
| secund. | secundis. - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective secundus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |