Erect, much-branched, spreading shrub, usually epiphytic, 0.5-1.5(-2) m tall;  stem base 1-3(-15) cm in diam.;  mature branches terete to bluntly angled, glabrous;  bark brown, rusty-brown, gray or almost black;  twigs bluntly angled, glabrous or densely hirsute with spreading white or yellowish trichomes 0.5 mm long, frequently also with clavate, reddish glandular fimbriae ca. 0.1 mm long.  Leaves obovate, oblanceolate, elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or ovate, 1.5-3(-6) x 0.5-1.5(-3) cm, basallly cuneate or rounded, apically rounded, obtuse, or rarely abruptly tapering to a blunt tip, young leaves densely puberulent, glabrate at maturity;  3-5(-7)-plinerved, midrib impressed or slightly raised and conspicuous above, raised and conspicuous beneath, lateral nerves slightly raised and conspicuous or plane and obscure on both surfaces, veinlets slightly raised and conspicuous or obscure above, usually obscure beneath;  petioles smooth, striate or more commonly rugose, subterete or flattened, 1-3(-5) mm long and 0.5-1 mm in diam., puberulent becoming glabrate.  Inflorescence fasciculate, 3-6(-7)-flowered;  rachis glabrous, 1-3(-7) mm long and 1-1.5 mm in diam.;  floral bracts smooth or muricate, obovate, 11-14(-19) x 6.5-11 mm, basally narrowed, apically rounded, shallowly emarginate or rarely acute, glabrous, marginally scarious and sparsely glandular-fimbriate, rarely densely ciliate, purple to reddish-purple, frequently with scattered, short, thick reddish-brown glandular fimbriae along lamina;  pedicels cylindric or obconic, rugose or obscurely ribbed, sometimes bluntly angled, glabrous or sparsely pilose distally, (0.5-)1.5-2(-5) mm long and 1-1.5(2.5) mm in diam., rarely with reddish-brown glandular fimbriae distally;  bracteoles basal, oblong to oblong-elliptic, (1-)3-6(-8.5) x 1-2 mm, basally truncate, apicallly obtuse, marginally scarious and densely glandular-fimbriate with fimbriae to 0.8 mm long, purple.  Flowers:  calyx 4.5-7.5 mm long;  hypanthium cylindric or barrel-shaped often pentagonal, smooth or minutely rugose, 1-3 mm long and 2-3 in diam., basally slightly apophysate with a narrow rim or collar, green to purple, sometimes with scattered, reddish-brown, glandular fimbriae;  limb erect, somewhat spreading or campanulate, 1.5-4 mm long, green to greenish-white;  lobes triangular, obtuse to acute, 0.5-1.5 x 1.5-2 mm, erect or somewhat connivent after anthesis, marginally densely glandular-fimbriate with fimbriae to 0.2 mm long;  sinuses broadly rounded or obtuse rarely acute;  corolla constricted basally and narrowed to throat, glabrous, 10-16 mm long and 4-5 mm in diam., basal 1/4 white or pale red, middle half purple or reddish-purple, distal 1/4 plus lobes white, lobes triangular, obtuse, 1 mm long;  stamens 9-14.5 mm long;  filaments glabrous or with scattered hairs distally, alternately 1.5-3 mm and 3-6 mm long;  anthers alternately 7.5-12.5 mm and 5.5-10 mm long;  thecae 2-3 mm long;  style (9.5-)11-15.5 mm long.  Berry 5-9 mm in diam., insipid (fide Nee & Tyson 10956, NY).

    Distribution (Map).  Costa Rica, Panama, and N Colombia, in tropical wet forest, premontane wet forest, montane cloud forest, thickets along roadside slopes and on remnant trees in pastureland, at 350-2700 m.