Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Verbena urticifolia in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 20.
today: The current name for this species is Verbena urticifolia L.
original Latin diagnosis
Verbena tetrandra, spicis filiformibus paniculatis, foliis indivisis serratis petiolatis.
English translation
Verbena four-stamened, with spikes filiform [and] paniculate; [and] with leaf blades undivided, serrate, [and] petiolate.
| 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 |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| paniculate; | paniculatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective paniculatus, -a, -um; modifies spicis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, folii |
| undivided, | indivisis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective indivisus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| serrate, | serratis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective serratus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| petiolate. | petiolatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective petiolatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |