Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Verbena stoechadifolia in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 19.
today: The current name for this species is Phyla stoechadifolia (L.) Small
original Latin diagnosis
Verbena diandra, spicis ovatis, foliis lanceolatis serrato-plicatis, caule fruticoso.
English translation
Verbena two-stamened, with spikes ovate; with leaf blades lanceolate [and] serrate-plicate; with a stem shrubby.
| 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 |
| ovate; | ovatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, folii |
| lanceolate | lanceolatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective lanceolatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| serrate-plicate; | serrato-plicatis - serrato- (combining form of group A adjective serratus, -a, -um) + plicatis (ablative plural neuter of group A adjective plicatus, -a, -um); modifies foliis |
| with a stem | caule - ablative singular of third declension neuter noun caulis, caulis |
| shrubby. | fruticoso - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective fruticosus, -a, -um |