Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Veronica longifolia in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 10.
today: The current name for this species is Veronica longifolia L.
original Latin description
Veronica spicis terminalibus, foliis oppositis lanceolatis serratis acuminatis.
English translation
Veronica with spikes terminal; with leaves opposite, lanceolate, serrate, [and] acuminate.
| 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 |
| lanceolate, | lanceolatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective lanceolatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| serrate, | serratis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective serratus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | added for smooher reading |
| acuminate. | acuminatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective acuminatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |