Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub to 2 m tall;  stem terete, striate, glabrous, sometimes glaucous;  twigs subterete, striate, minutely puberulent.  Leaves coriaceous, somewhat bullate, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, (2.7-)4.5-8 x 1.2-2.5 cm, base obtuse to rounded or broadly cuneate and somewhat attenuate, apex bluntly acuminate, margin slightly to moderately revolute, glabrous on both surfaces but deciduously glandular-fimbriate beneath with the bases of the fimbriae becoming black (fungal infection?) and appearing punctate;  3(-5)-plinerved from the base, midrib strongly impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves either impressed or slightly raised in a sulcus above and prominently raised beneath, reticulate veinlets raised and conspicuous above, raised but inconspicuous beneath;  petiole subterete, flattened above, rugose, 2-4.5 mm long, glabrous or minutely puberulent.  Inflorescence solitary, racemose, 3-7-flowered, surrounded at base by a series of persistent, ovate to elliptic bracts to 4 mm long;  rachis subterete, angled or ribbed, 1.5-2 cm long, glabrous;  floral bract caducous, elliptic, rounded, 3-4 x ca. 2 mm, pale green, glabrous;  pedicel terete, ribbed, 6-7 mm long, glabrous but with scattered glandular fimbriae;  bracteoles located near base, ovate, obtuse, ca. 0.5 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate.  Flower with calyx 4-4.5 mm long, glabrous;  hypanthium campanulate, rugose, 1-1.5 mm long, the base rounded;  limb erect-spreading, 2-2.5 mm long;  lobes narrowly triangular, acuminate, 1-1.3 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate, connivent after anthesis;  sinuses rounded;  corolla cylindric, terete, ca. 9 mm long and 3 mm diam., glabrous, pale maroon, the lobes deltate, acute, ca. 1 mm long;  stamen 6 (only one flower available), ca. 8 mm long;  filaments alternately ca. 3 mm and 1.6 mm long, weakly pilose;  anthers alternately ca. 6 mm and 7 mm long;  thecae alternately ca. 1.6 mm and 2 mm long;  tubules alternately ca. 4.4 mm and 5 mm long;  style about equalling the corolla, glabrous.  Mature berry not seen, but at least spherical, 7 mm diam., dark purple.

    Distribution.  Endemic to Ecuador and known from only two collections;  shrub thicket along stream, disturbed premontane forest, at 1220-1350 m altitude.  Rare and endangered.