Erect shrub to ca. 2 m tall; twigs very sparsely to moderately pubescent with nonchambered to clearly chambered pith; buds to ca. 0.7 mm long, leaves revolute.  Leaves coriaceous, ovate (to elliptic), 0.5-1.7 x 0.15-0.8 cm, base cordate to truncate, apex acute- to rounded-mucronate, margin entire, strongly revolute, adaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent on midvein, especially basal portion, abaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent on midvein, usually with few very inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 1.5-4 mm long.  Inflorescences axillary, fascicle-like, often only few flowered racemes to 0.3-1.5 cm long, or flowers solitary and axillary; rachis moderately to densely pubescent; pedicels 4-8 mm long, sparsely to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2 to several, alternate to subopposite, from near base to near midpoint of pedicel, narrowly triangular, to ca. 0.9 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 1 mm long.  Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1.1-2 x 0.5-1.2 mm, abaxial surface sparsely to moderately pubescent; corolla cylindrical, white to red(?), 6-7.5 x 2-4 mm, glabrous; filaments 4-4.5 mm long; anthers 1-1.3 mm long; ovary sparsely to moderately pubescent.  Capsules short-ovoid, 3-5 x 4.5-6 mm, placentae subapical; seeds 1-3 mm long.

    Distribution.  Endemic to SE Brazil (Rio de Janiero, Serra dos Orgaos), in shrub bogs with Sphagnum, at ca. 1500-1830 m alt.  Flowering November through January.