Cavendishia rosea A. C. Smith, J. Arnold Arb. 24: 468.  1943.  Type.  Colombia.   Antioquia:  Between Valdivia and Yarumal, 2200 m, 20 Feb 1942 (fl), Metcalf & Cuatrecasas 30123 (holotype: A, photo NY neg. 9078; isotypes: G, MO, UC, US, photo NY neg. 9153).

    Epiphytic or terrestrial shrub with stems to 5 m long, glabrous except filaments;  mature branches subterete, bluntly angled to striate;  bark gray;  twigs similar but brown to reddish-brown.  Leaves subamplexicaul, oblong, ovate-oblong, or ovate-elliptic, (3.6-)5-8.7(-10) x (1.9-)2.5-4(-6.4) cm, basally cordate and slightly auriculate, apically obtusely short-acuminate or obtuse;  weakly 5-7(-11)-plinerved often appearing pinnate, midrib and lateral nerves impressed or plane above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces;  petioles subterete, slightly rugose, 2-4(-6) mm long and 2.5-4 mm diam., obscured by cordate leaf base, about as long as leaf-base sinus is deep thereby causing leaves to appear nearly sessile or subamplexicaul.  Inflorescence 15-25(-53)-flowered;  rachis subterete, bluntly angled, muricate, 7-12.5(-17) cm long and 2-3 mm diam.;  floral bracts more or less involute in bud becoming conduplicate at anthesis, oblong or oblanceolate, 15-32 x 8-13 mm, apically obtuse or acute, but appearing long-acuminate, minutely but conspicuously glandular-punctate adaxially, rose-red when fresh;  pedicels subterete, 9-12 mm long at anthesis lengthening to 15 mm long in fruit;  bracteoles oblong or ovate-oblong, 3-5 x 2.5-3 mm, apically rounded and sometimes apiculate, glandular-punctate adaxially, marginally eglandular.  Flowers:  calyx 4.5-6 mm long;  hypanthium cylindric or somewhat bluntly pentagonal, ca. 3 mm long and 4-5 mm diam., basally slightly apophysate (the apophysis less than 1 mm long);  limb erect, 2-3 mm long;  lobes triangular, ca. 0.5-1 x 2.5 mm, connivent after anthesis, eglandular;  sinuses broadly rounded;  corolla cylindric 15-17.5 mm long and 4-5 mm diam., red when fresh, lobes deltoid, less than 1 mm long;  stamens 13-14 mm long;  filaments short-pilose ventrally, alternately 1.8-2.5 mm and 4-6 mm long;  anthers alternately 11-12.5 mm and 10-11 mm;  thecae 3-5.5 mm long;  style equal to corolla.  Berry 9-10 mm in diam.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Colombia and known only from three localities in N Antioquia Dept., on exposed hillsides, river banks, or along forest, at elevations of 2135-2200 m (see Luteyn & Sylva S., 1999).  Flowering specimens have been collected in February and March, and fruiting in late March.  Rare.