Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Verbena mexicana in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 19.
today: The current name for this species is Priva mexicana (L.) Pers.
original Latin diagnosis
Verbena diandra, spicis laxis, calycibus fructus reflexo-pendulis subglobosis hispidis.
English translation
Verbena two-stamened, with spikes open; with calyces of the fruit reflexed-pendulous, subglobose, and hispid.
| Verbena | Verbena |
| two-stamened, | diandra - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective diandrus, -a, -um; modifies Verbena |
| with spikes | spicis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae |
| open; | laxis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective laxus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |
| with calyces | calycibus - ablative plural of third declension masculine noun calyx, calycis |
| of the fruit | fructus - genitive singular of fourth declension masculine noun fructus, fructus |
| reflexed pendulous, | reflexo-pendulis - reflexo- (combining form of perfect passive participle of 3rd conjugation verb reflecto, reflectere, reflexi, reflexum) + pendulis (ablative plural masculine of group A adjective pendulus, -a, -um); modifies calycibus |
| subglobose, | subglobosis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective globosus, -a, -um; modifies calycibus |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| hispid. | hispidis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective hispidus, -a, -um; modifies calycibus |