Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Phalaris canariensis in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 54.
today: The current name for this species is Phalaris canariensis L.
original Latin diagnosis
Phalaris panicula subovata spiciformi, glumis carinatis.
English translation
Phalaris with a panicle nearly ovate [and] resembling a spike; [and] with glumes keeled.
| Phalaris | Phalaris |
| with a panicle | panicula - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun panicula, -ae |
| nearly ovate | subovata - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective subovatus, -a, -um; modifies panicula |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| resembling a spike; | spiciformi - ablative singular feminine of group B adjective spiciformis, -is, -e; modifies panicula |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with glumes | glumis - ablative plural of first declension feminine noun gluma, -ae |
| keeled. | carinatis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective carinatus, -a, -um; modifies glumis |