Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Phalaris phleoides in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 55.
today: The current name for this species is Phleum phleoides (L.) H. Karst.
original Latin diagnosis
Phalaris panicula cylindrica spiciformi.
English translation
Phalaris with a panicle cylindric [and] resembling a spike.
| Phalaris | Phalaris |
| with a panicle | panicula - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun panicula, -ae |
| cylindric | cylindrica - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective cylindricus, -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 |