Shrub to small tree to 5 m tall with longitudinally furrowed bark; twigs nearly glabrous to miderately pubescent, with nonchambered to clearly chambered pith; buds to ca. 1 m long, leaves revolute.  Leaves coriaceous, ovate to elliptic or oblong, 0.6-5.7 x 0.3-1.7(-1.9) cm, base cuneate to rounded (very slighlty cordate), apex acuminate or acute- to retuse-mucronate, margin entire, plane to revolute, adaxial surface glabrous, but sparsely pubescent on midvein, abaxial surface glabrous (very sparsely pubescent along basal portion of midvein), usually with few very inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 1.5-8 mm long.  Inflorescences axillary racemes to 1-3.5(-4.5) cm long; rachis moderately to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate to opposite, from nearly basal to near midpoint of pedicel, triangular to linear, to ca. 1.5 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 1.7 mm long.  Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 0.8-2.7 x 0.6-1.8 mm, abaxial surface glabrous to moderately pubescent; corolla cylindrical, white, 5-8 x 2-4 mm, glabrous; filaments 4-5 mm long; anthers 0.9-1.5 mm long; ovary glabrous to sparsely pubescent (with few hairs at apex and around base).  Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, 4.5-7 x 5.5-10 mm, very thick walled, placentae subapical; seeds 1.5-3.2 mm long.

    Distribution.  Endemic to SE Brazil (from Paraná south to Rio Grande do Sul in the Serra do Mar), in various habitats, at 350-2000 m alt.
 

 Key to the Varieties of Agarista niederleinii

1.  Leaves with blade 0.6-2.8 x 0.3-0.9 cm, apex usually obtuse- to
     rounded- or retuse-mucronate; petiole 1.5-4.5 mm long ..... var. niederleini
1.  Leaves with blade 2-5.7 x 0.5-1.7(-1.9) cm, apex usually acute-
     mucronate to acuminate; petiole 3-8 mm long ........................ var. acutifolia
 

Agarista niederleinii (Sleumer) Judd var. niederleinii.  Leucothoe niederleinii Sleumer, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 12: 480. 1935. Illustration:  Judd (1995), fig. 13.  Type.  Brazil. Santa Catarina: Campos de los Rios Chopim y Chapecó, Palmas Altas, Jan 1887, Niederlein 2006 (holotype, B, destroyed).  Santa Catarina: Monte Cristo, Garuva, Sao Francisco do Sul, Reitz & Klein 5889 (neotype, designated by Judd (1984), S;  isoneotypes, B, L, NY, UC, US).

    Leaves with petiole 1.5-4.5 mm long; blade 0.6-2.8 x 0.3-0.9, flat to moderately abaxially curved, apex usually obtuse- to rounded- or retuse-mucronate, margin plane to revolute.  Inflorescences to 1.5-3.5(-4.5) cm long; bracteoles narrowly triangular to linear.

    Distribution.  Endemic to SE Brazil (from Paraná south to Rio Grande do Sul in Serra do Mar), in cloud forests, thickets, and open, rocky crests and slopes, at 850-2000 m alt.  Flowering November and December (to February).
 

Agarista niederleinii (Sleumer) Judd var. acutifolia Judd, J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 330. 1984.  Illustration:  Judd (1995), fig. 13.  Type.  Brazil.  Paraná: Campina dos Tavares, Bocaiúva do Sul, 21 Nov 1970, Hatschbach & Guimaraes 25598 (holotype, US; isotypes, C, M, MO, NY, S, SP, UC).

     Leaves with petiole 3-8 mm long; blade 2-5.7 x 0.5-1.7(-1.9) cm, ± flat, apex usually acuminate to acute- (obtuse-)mucronate, margin plane to very slightly revolute at base.  Inflorescences to 1-2.8 cm long; bracteoles triangular.

    Distribution.  Endemic to SE Brazil (from Paraná south to Rio Grande do Sul in Serra do Mar), in thickets and thicket margins adjacent to grassy campo, stream margins, at 350-1000(?) m alt.  Flowering November and December.