Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Verbena hastata in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 20.
today: The current name for this species is Verbena hastata L.
original Latin diagnosis
Verbena tetrandra, spicis longis acuminatis, foliis hastatis.
English translation
Verbena four-stamened, with spikes long [and] acuminate; [and] with leaf blades hastate.
| 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 |
| long | longis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective longus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| acuminate; | acuminatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective acuminatus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, folii |
| hastate. | hastatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective hastatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |