A porphyritic extrusive rock having phenocrysts of plagioclase and potassium feldspar in nearly equal amounts, little or no quartz, and a finely crystalline to glassy groundmass, which may contain obscure potassium feldspar; the extrusive equivalent of monzonite. Latite grades into trachyte with an increase in the alkali feldspar content, and into andesite or basalt, depending on the presence of sodic or calcic plagioclase, as the alkali feldspar content decreases. It is usually considered synonymous with trachyandesite and trachybasalt, depending on the color. The name, given by Ransome in 1898, is derived from Latium, Italy.