Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Nyctanthes arbor-tristis in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 6.
today: The current name for this species is Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.
original Latin description
Nyctanthes caule tetragono, foliis ovatis acuminatis, pericarpiis membranaceis compressis.
English translation
Nyctanthes with a stem tetragonous; with leaves ovate [and] acuminate; with pericarps membranous [and] compressed.
| Nyctanthes | Nyctanthes |
| with a stem | caule - ablative singular of third declension masculine noun caulis, caulis |
| tetragonous; | tetragono - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective tetragonus, -a, -um; modifies caule |
| with leaves, | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| ovate | ovatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | added for smoother reading |
| acuminate; | acuminatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective acuminatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| with pericarps, | pericarpiis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun pericarpium, -i |
| membranous | membranaceis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective membranaceus, -a, -um; modifies pericarpiis |
| [and] | added for smoother reading |
| compressed. | compressis - ablative plural neuter of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb comprimo, -ere, -essi, -essum; modifies pericarpiis |