Terrestrial and epiphytic shrub to 0.5-2 m tall;  mature branches terete, minutely striate, glabrous;  twigs subterete to bluntly angled, densely grayish or whitish, short-pilose.  Leaves bullate, oblong or oblong-ovate, (2-)3.5-5.5(-7) x (1.5-)2-4(-4.5) cm, basally rounded and subcordate, apically rounded or obtuse, densely short-pilose along nerves and margins when young, usually persisting along nerves of upper surface;  3-5(-7)-plinerved, midrib and lateral nerves usually deeply impressed above and conspicuously raised beneath, veinlets impressed, plane or raised above and usually slightly raised beneath;  petioles subterete, rugose, 3-4(-6) mm long, densely white puberulent.  Inflorescence 10-14-flowered;  rachis bluntly angled, rugose, ridged, 1-2(-4) cm long and ca. 2 mm in diam., densely short-pilose with white curly trichomes;  floral bracts sometimes ribbed when dry, oblong or oblong-elliptic, 8-10 x 5(-8) mm, basally rounded and somewhat clasping rachis, apically rounded and often shallowly emarginate, glabrous or densely short-pubescent with white curly trichomes, marginally ciliate and glandular-fimbriate, purplish when fresh;  pedicels angled, rugose, densely short-pilose with white curly trichomes rarely glabrate, (1.5-)4.5-7 mm long and 1-1.5 mm in diam., usually with tiny, black, clavate glands distally;  bracteoles basal, ovate or subulate, (0.5-)1-2 x 1 mm, densely glandular-fimbriate marginally, usually densely short-pilose.  Flowers:  calyx 6-9 mm long, usually densely short-pilose with white curly trichomes, rarely glabrate;  hypanthium barrel-shaped, strongly rugose, 2-3(3.5) mm long, basally apophysate but consisting of a very short inconspicuous rim or collar;  limb cylindric or somewhat spreading, rugose, 3.5-6 mm long;  lobes oblong-ovate or ovate, 1.5-2 x 3 mm, usually somewhat connivent after anthesis, margins lacerate-glandular, thinner than lamina proper;  sinuses acute;  corolla pilose distally, rarely glabrate, 11.5-14 mm long and 4-5 mm in diam., pink, pinkish-white or purplish;  stamens 8.5-10.5 mm long;  filaments pilose distally, alternately 2.5-3.5 mm and 3.5-5.5 mm long;  anthers alternately 6.5-8.5 mm and 5-7.5 mm long;  thecae 1-3 mm long;  style 10-13 mm long.  Mature berry not seen.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Costa Rica; very rare and known only from the Cordillera de Talamanca of Cartago and San José Prov., where it is found in mossy cloud forest, wet thickets, and on steep rocky roadcuts, at elevations of 2000-3500 m.  Flowering specimens have been collected in December-February and May-August;  immature fruiting specimens have been collected only in January.