Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Verbena spuria in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 20.
today: The current name for this species is Verbena officinalis L.
original Latin diagnosis
Verbena tetrandra, spicis filiformibus, foliis multifido-laciniatis, caulibus numerosis.
English translation
Verbena four-stamened, with spikes filiform; with leaf blades divided into many laciniate parts; [and] with stems numerous.
| 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 |
| filiform; | filiformibus - ablative plural feminine of group B adjective filiformis, -is, -e; modifies spicis |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, folii |
| divided into many laciniate parts; | multifido-laciniatis = multifido- (combining form of group A adjective multifidus, -a, -um) + laciniatis (ablative plural neuter of group A adjective laciniatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with stems | caulibus - ablative plural of third declension masculine noun caulis, caulis |
| numerous. | numerosis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective numerosus, -a, -um; modifies caulibus |