"Tabebuia" was first used as a generic name by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1838. The type species for the genus is "Tabebuia uliginosa", which is now a synonym for "Tabebuia cassinoides". Confusion soon ensued over the meaning of "Tabebuia" and what to include within it. Most of the misunderstanding was cleared up by Nathaniel Lord Britton in 1915. Britton revived the concept of "Tabebuia" that had been originated in 1876 by Bentham and Hooker, consisting of species with either simple or palmately compound leaves. Similar plants with pinnately compound leaves were placed in "Tecoma". This is the concept of "Tabebuia" that was usually followed until 2007.