Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub with stems to 5 cm in diam. and 4 m tall;  twigs somewhat soft-wooded, subterete or complanate, striate, glabrous, dark reddish-brown.  Leaves elliptic or oblong-elliptic, (2.5-)4-6.5 x (1-)1.5-3 cm, basally rounded or slightly subcordate, apically rounded or broadly acute, uppermost leaves sometimes apiculate, glabrous;  5-plinerved often appearing pinnately veined, midrib impressed above and conspicuously raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath with inner pair arising ca. 1 cm above base and extending nearly to distal tip, outer pair arising from base but extending only 1/3-1/2-way up lamina, reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces but inconspciucuous;  petioles terete, rugose, 3-7 mm long and 1-2 mm in diam., glabrous.  Inflorescence 15-20(-30)-flowered;  rachis subterete, bluntly to sharply angled, conspicuously striate, glabrous, 6-8(-13) cm long and 2.5-3(-4) mm in diam.;  floral bracts oblong or elliptic, slightly concave, (18-)20-22 x (8-)12-14 mm, basally slightly auriculate, apically rounded, margins thinner than lamina, glabrous, dark red when fresh;  pedicels subterete, striate and angular, glabrous, 18-20(-24) mm long and 1 mm in diam.;  bracteoles ovate, acute, 1.5 mm long, apically with a tuft of short hairs marginally glandular-fimbriate.  Flowers:  calyx glabrous, 8-9.5 mm long, dark waxy red when fresh;  hypanthium cylindric, slightly 10-ribbed, 4-5 mm long, basally strongly apophysate (especially after drying);  limb cylindric or slightly spreading, 5-6 mm long;  lobes triangular, acute, apex itself blunt, 1.5 mm long and ca. 3 mm broad, erect after anthesis, marginally eglandular or more commonly provided with minute oblong glands (usually two/side) which are easily broken off upon drying;  sinuses rounded or obtuse;  corolla cylindric but slightly wider towards base and constricted distally, glabrous, (20-)24-25 mm long and ca. 8 mm in diam., lower 3/4 bright dark waxy red, upper 1/4 plus lobes yellowish-white when fresh, lobes triangular, 2 mm long, spreading to reflexed at anthesis;  stamens 20-21 mm long;  filaments distinct to lightly coherent in basal half, puberulent in distal half, alternately 5-6 mm and 7 mm long;  anthers alternately 17 mm and 15 mm long;  thecae alternately 5.5-6 mm and 6-6.5 mm long;  style 23-25 mm long.  Immature berry 14 mm in diam.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Venezuela and known only from the type area, where the plant occurs in subpáramo thickets and montane cloud forest, at elevations of 2550-3300 m.  Flowering specimens have been collected in October-November and May; and fruiting material in May.  Rare and endangered.

    Local names.  cacahuito, cacagüito (Mérida).