Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub;  branches subterete, complanate and bluntly angled, smooth, glabrous, reddish-brown.  Leaves coriaceous to subcoriaceous, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, (9.5-)11-15(-19) x (3-)4.5-8.5(-10.5) cm, basally rounded, obtuse, broadly cuneate, or rarely subcordate, apically abruptly caudate-acuminate with acumen 1.5-2 cm long, glabrous or with scattered hairs along midrib beneath;  5(-7)-plinerved with inner pair of lateral nerves arising from 1.5-2.5 cm above base, midrib conspicuously raised and thickened through proximal 2-2.5 cm otherwise impressed above, lateral nerves arcuate-ascending and impressed above, reticulate veinlets plane to slightly raised above, all veins raised beneath;  petiole terete, rugose, 6-12(-15) mm long and 1.5-2.5 mm diam., glabrous.  Inflorescence 10-20-flowered, averaging 2 flowers/cm;  rachis subterete, bluntly angled, slightly flexuous, each node conspicuously swollen, glabrous, 6-12.5 cm long and 2.5-4.5 mm in diam.;  floral bracts subcoriaceous, persistent for a time after anthesis but falling before fruit matures, tightly involute around flowers, oblong to ovate, 20-30 x 16-27 mm, basally slightly auriculate, glabrous, dark rose when fresh (fide label data);  pedicels obconic, coarsely rugose, bluntly angled, glabrous, 2.5-6 mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm in basal diam. and 3.5-6 m apical diam.;  bracteoles usually caducous, oblong, 2.5-5(-13) x 1.2-2(-6) mm, glabrous, marginally weakly glandular-callose at distal tip only or along edge almost to base, the glandular area usually black when dry.  Flowers:  calyx glabrous, 6-10(-16) mm long;  hypanthium cylindric, smooth or coarsely 5-10-ribbed, 2-4 mm long, basally truncate or coarsely 5-undulate/lobed; limb cylindric, erect, 4-7(-13) mm long;  lobes oblong, apiculate, imbricate, 3.5-5(-10) x 3(-8) mm, marginally glandular-callose, the distal half although callose not contiguous at tip thereby causing lobe to appear emarginate, lower half of lobe margin thinly glandular, entire glandular area usually black when dry, lobes connivent and encircling style base after anthesis;  corolla cylindric, narrowing distally, glabrous, 18-24 mm long, white but red distally when fresh (fide label data), lobes oblong, subacute, 1.5 mm long;  stamens 15-19.5 mm long;  filaments distinct to loosely coherent basally, pilose marginally, alternately 2-4 mm and 4-7 mm long;  anthers alternately 14.5-17 mm and 13-14.3 mm long;  thecae 4.5-6.5 mm long;  tubules dehiscing by clefts nearly their entire length;  style 16-26 mm long.  Mature berry not seen, but at least 14 mm diam.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to NW Colombia, along the western slopes and foothills of the Cordillera Occidental, in wet forest, at elevations of 5-1800 m.  Rare and endangered.