Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Verbena bonariensis in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 20.
today: The current name for this species is Verbena bonariensis L.
original Latin diagnosis
Verbena tetrandra, spicis fasciculatis, foliis lanceolatis amplexicaulibus.
English translation
Verbena four-stamened, with spikes fascicled; [and] with leaf blades lanceolate [and] stem-clasping.
| Verbena | Verbena |
| four-stamened, | tetrandra - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective tetrandrus, -a, -um; modifies Verbena |
| with spikes | spicis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae |
| fascicled; | fasciculatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective fasciculatus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, folii |
| lancceolate | lanceolatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective lanceolatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| stem-clasping. | amplexicaulibus - ablative plural neuter of group B adjective amplexicaulis, -is, -e; modifies foliis |