Epiphytic shrub;  immature branches and twigs of the new growth terete, somewhat rugose, moderately hirsute or glabrate, trichomes 1-2 mm long, tan to tawny yellow.  Leaves elliptic or oblong elliptic, (4.5-)9-14 x (1-)2-4(-6) cm, basally narrowing and obtuse, apically acuminate, grayish or brownish green above and tan beneath when dry, sparsely short pilose along the nerves above, moderately pilose or glabrate beneath with tawny yellow trichomes;  3(-5)-plinerved, the midrib weakly impressed or plane above, raised and prominent beneath, the lateral nerves weakly impressed or more commonly elevated on both the surfaces as the veinlets;  petioles terete or infrequently flattened adaxially, rugose, 4-7 mm long and 2 mm in diam., hirsute.  Inflorescence obconic or fusiform at anthesis, ca. 20-flowered, the lowest nodes sterile, circumscribed at the base by striate bracts;  rachis glabrous, smooth, fusiform, 3-8 cm long, 5-6 mm in diam. medially, the nodes congested;  floral bracts glabrous, striate, marginally scarious, oblong obovate, basally narrowing and rounded, apically rounded and emarginate, commonly tearing, 25-35 x 13-18 mm, red to rose-pink, with subsessile, capitate, red glands located at the base;  pedicels subterete, glabrous, ca. 1 mm long and 1-1.5 mm in diam.;  bracteoles oblong or oblanceolate, imbricate, basally clasping the calyx, apically rounded and shallowly emarginate, 25-30 x ca. 10 mm, with subsessile, capitate, red glands as on the floral bracts.  Flowers with the calyx glabrous, 11-15 mm long;  hypanthium barrel-shaped, smooth, 2.5-4 mm long, not enlarged basally;  limb erect, spreading submembranaceous, striate, 9-12 mm long including lobes;  lobes linear oblong, acute, 3-6 mm long, erect after anthesis, the few, stout, glandular marginal fimbriae occasionally distally fused;  sinuses obtuse to broadly rounded;  corolla glabrous, membranaceous basally and subcoriaceous apically, 34-35 mm long and 6-7 mm in diam., white with green tips;  stamens alternately 10-11.5 mm and 12-13.5 mm long, about 1/3 the length of the corolla;  filaments distinct or slightly coherent basally, glabrous, alternately 1-2 mm and 3.5-4.5 mm long, the long filaments conspicuously narrowed and thin distally;  anthers including the tubules alternately 8-9 mm and 9-10.5 mm long;  thecae smooth, 2.5-3 mm long;  tubules dehiscing by short, oblique pores or oval clefts 1-1.5 mm long;  style 33-37 mm long.  Berry not seen.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to E Panama (Darién Prov.) and one locality in adjacent Colombia (Chocó: Alturas de Nique).  Rare and endangered.