Terrestrial or rarely epiphytic shrub to 5 m tall;  stems strongly angled or narrowly 5-winged, smooth, glabrous, often drying hollow.  Leaves thick coriaceous, lance-elliptic, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, (9-)12-20(-26) x (4.5-)6-8(-10.5) cm, basally subcordate, apically acute to acuminate, glabrous, glandular-fimbriate on both surfaces with the upper often appearing punctate;  (3-)5-7(-9)-plinerved, all veins impressed above and raised beneath, proximal portion of midrib and lateral nerves often deeply impressed giving leaf a bullate appearance;  petioles subterete, dorsally flattened, rugose, glabrous, 4-12 mm long and 3-5 mm in diam.  Inflorescence paniculate, 50-300-flowered, encircled at base by numerous, caducous, subcoriaceous, ovate, marginally glandular-fimbriate bracts;  primary rachis and lateral branches subterete to angled, glabrous, conspicuously striate, primary rachis (10-)20-36 cm long and (4-)6-10 mm in diam., lateral branches up to 13 in number and (2.5-)4-10(-15) cm long;  floral bracts caducous, cucullate, oblong-elliptic, 9-20 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate and scarious, glabrous, yellowish-greeen when fresh;  pedicels subterete, striate, glabrous, 14-17 mm long at anthesis;  bracteoles similar to floral bracts but 5-6 x 3 mm.  Flowers:  calyx glabrous, 4.5-6 mm long, green when fresh;  hypanthium subcylindric, 2-3 mm long, truncate but appearing with a short basal rim when dry;  limb campanulate or spreading, 2.5-4 mm long;  lobes ovate to hemispheric, apiculate, 1.5-2 x 2 mm, connivent after anthesis, marginally lacerate-glandular and often a brick-red color when dry;  sinuses acute;  corolla subcylindric broadened at base, glabrous, 20-27 mm long and 6-12 mm diam., texture of basal half smooth, but distal half bumpy or bullate, maroon with greenish tinge when fresh, lobes triangular, reflexed at anthesis, 1.5-2 mm long, white when fresh;  stamens 18-20 mm long;  filaments densely short-pilose ventrally, alternately 4-5 mm and 5.3-5.5 mm long;  anthers alternately 14.2-16 mm and 14-16 mm long;  thecae alternately 4.5-6 mm and 5-6.5 mm long;  style equalling the corolla.  Berry 14-16 mm diam.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Colombia, found very locally in the Cordillera Central of Cauca and Huila Depts. and the Cordillera Occidental of Cauca Dept., at the forest edge and disturbed roadside slopes, at elevations of 2000-2700 m.

    Local names.  uva and zanca de mula (both Cauca).

    Uses.  The fruits are edible, the berries being very large, sweet and juicy, and produced in abundance.  This species certainly has potential for cultivation as a crop-plant because of its edible fruits.