Epiphytic shrub;  stem terete, striate to ribbed, glabrate;  twigs terete to subterete, complanate, striate to ribbed, densely short-pilose with white hairs, glabrate.  Leaves coriaceous, somewhat bullate, elliptic-ovate, elliptic, to oblong-elliptic, rarely ovate, (2-)4-6 x 1.5-2.5 cm, base rounded, cordate to subcordate, sometimes somewhat clasping, apex acute, obtuse, to narrowly rounded, margin entire and slightly revolute, glabrous to short-hirsute at base of nerves above, moderately and persistently short-hirsute beneath, also with scattered, minute, glandular fimbriae on both surfaces;  5-plinerved from above the base, midrib raised and thickened in the proximal 2-10 mm, then impressed distally above, conspicuously raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above (the inner pair joined with midrib for 2-10 mm) and conspicuously raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly impressed above but conspicuously raised beneath;  petiole subterete, broadly flattened and canaliculate above, rugose, 3-5 mm long, densely short-hirsute, glabrate.  Inflorescence axillary, racemose, 8-32-flowered, surrounded at base by a series of ovate, acute bracts to 2 mm long;  rachis subterete, angled, slender, striate, 3-9 cm long, densely short-pilose with white hairs;  floral bract flat not ribbed, elliptic, sometimes somewhat oblanceolate, base tapering, apex acute, 18-25 x 5-6 mm, moderately short-pilose on upper surface, margin minutely glandular-fimbriate distally, pink to red (fide labels);  pedicel subterete, striate, 9-10 mm long, densely short-pilose;  bracteoles basal, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, 2-3 mm long, short-pilose, margin glandular-fimbriate.  Flowers with calyx 4-5.5 mm long, moderately short-hirsute, red (fide labels);  hypanthium cylindric, ribbed, 1.5-2.5 mm long, base strongly apophysate with the margin undulate to lobed;  limb cylindric-campanulate, 2.5-3 mm long;  lobes deltate, acute, ca. 1.3 mm long, eglandular, erect after anthesis;  sinuses rounded;  corolla cylindric, 11-13 mm long and ca. 4 mm diam., dark violet to purple (fide labels), short-pilose all over, the lobes erect, ovate-deltate, acute, to 1 mm long, white (fide labels);  stamens equal overall, 11-12 mm long;  filaments distinct, alternately ca. 3 mm and 5.2 mm long, glabrous to weakly short-pilose;  anthers alternately ca. 9 mm and 8 mm long;  thecae alternately ca. 3 mm and 4.5 mm long;  tubules alternately ca. 6 mm and 4 mm long.  Berry not seen.

    Distribution.  Costa Rica and Panama, in Quercus forest, 2000-2800 m elevation.