Taxonomic history
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Veronica hybrida in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 11.
today: The current name for this species is Veronica spicata L. ssp. hybrida (L.) Gaudin
original Latin diagnosis
Veronica spicis terminalibus, foliis oppositis obtuse serratis scabris, caule erecto.
English translation
Veronica with spikes terminal; with leaves opposite, [the blades] obtusely serrate [and] scabrous; [and] with a stem erect.
| Veronica | Veronica |
| with spikes | spicis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun spica, -ae |
| terminal; | terminalibus - ablative plural feminine of group B adjective terminalis, -is, -e; modifies spicis |
| with leaves | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| opposite, | oppositis - ablative plural neuter of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb oppono, opponere, opposui, oppositum; modifies foliis |
| [the blades] obtusely | obtuse - adverb; modifies serratis |
| serrate | serratis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective serratus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| scabrous; | scabris - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective scabrus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with a stem | caule - ablative plural of third declension masculine noun caulis, -is |
| erect. | erecto - ablative singular masculine of perfect passive participle of third conugation verb erigo, erigere, erexi, erectum; modifies caule |