Taxonomic history
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Rhamnus paliurus in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 194 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
Today: The current name for this species is Paliurus spina-christi Mill.
original Latin diagnosis
Rhamnus aculeis geminatis: inferiore reflexo, floribus trigynis.
English translation
Rhamnus with prickles paired, the lower bent back; [and] with flowers [...?].
| Rhamnus | Rhamnus |
| with prickles | aculeis - ablative plural of second declension masculine noun aculeus, -i |
| paired | geminatis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective geminatus, -a, -um; modifies aculeis |
| the lower | inferiore - comparative degree, ablative singular masculine of group A adjective inferus, -a, -um; agrees in case and gender with aculeis |
| reflexed; | reflexed - perfect passive participle, ablative plural masculine of third conjugation verb reflecto, reflectere, reflexi, reflexum; modifies aculeis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with flowers | floribus - ablative plural of third declension masculine noun flor, floris |
| [?]. | trigynis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective trigynus, -a, -um; modifies floribus |