Epiphyte or terrestrial shrub with stems arching to 2 m long;  mature branches terete, smooth, glabrous, tan, with odor of anise when freshly cut;  twigs subterete, striate, glabrous, tan.  Leaves ovate-lanceolate, (4-)9-16(-20) x (1.5-)4-7(-9) cm, basally rounded and subcordate, apically acuminate with apex itself obtuse, glabrous;  pinnately veined (or weakly plinerved) with 4-5 pairs of opposite lateral veins, midrib thick and raised through proximal 1/2-2/3 otherwise thin and slightly impressed above, lateral nerves impressed above causing leaves to be bullate, anastomosing near margins, raised and conspicuous beneath, reticulate veins slightly raised on both surfaces;  petioles terete, rugose, 4-7(-10) mm long and 1.5-2(-4) mm in diam., glabrous.  Inflorescence viscid, 16-25(-35)-flowered;  rachis bluntly angled, striate, glabrous, 10-20 cm long and 3 mm in diam., green but heavily suffused with purple when fresh, drying purple;  floral bracts conspicuously striate, ovate to oblong-ovate, 13-20 x 6-11 mm, basally clasping, glabrous, dark wine-red when fresh;  pedicels subterete, weakly striate, glabrous, 40-45(-60) mm long and ca. 1 mm in diam. at anthesis, green but heavily suffused with purple when fresh;  bracteoles located ca. 1/3 up pedicel, coriaceous, opposite to subopposite, conspicuously striate, broadly ovate, somewhat cucullate, 3-4 x 4-5 mm, basally clasping, glaborus but the margins glandular-callose distal 3/4, dark wine-red when fresh.  Flowers:  calyx glabrous, 10-11 mm long and ca. 7 mm in diam. at middle;  hypanthium cylindric, 4-5 mm long, strongly apophysate basally, with margin of apophysis smooth;  limb cylindric, slightly swollen at middle, 5-6 mm long;  lobes oblong or broadly ovate, apiculate, 2 x 4 mm, erect after anthesis, entire upper half glandular-callose, young lobes secreting a white viscid latex when fresh;  sinuses acute;  corolla cylindric but sharply constricted and narrowed at throat, glabrous, ca. 35 mm long and 9 mm in diam., tube dark wine-red, lobes erect at anthesis, triangular, acute, ca. 2 mm long, whitish-red when fresh;  stamens 28-30 mm long;  filaments with the short ones basically glabrous and the long ones puberulent medially, alternately 4-5 mm and 9-11 mm long;  anthers alternately 10-11 m and 8 mm long;  style 35 mm  long.  Mature berry not seen.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Colombia and known only from vicinity of San José del Palmar (Chocó Dept.), where it is found in the forest and along disturbed roadcut slopes, at elevations of 600-1370 m.  Flowering specimens have been collected in February, April, and September;  immature fruits have been collected in late February.  Rare and endangered.