The basionym of Ruellia drymophila, Hemigraphis drymophila, was first described and published in Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 5(25): 161. 1912. "Name - Hemigraphis drymophila Diels". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
Under its current treatment as Ruellia drymophila (from its basionym, Hemigraphis drymophila), this species was published in Anzeiger der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. Mathmematische-naturwissenschaftliche Klasse. Wien 61: 169. 1924. "Name - Ruellia drymophila (Diels) Hand.-Mazz". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
