Demosthenesia cordifolia Luteyn, Brittonia 30(4): 432, figs. 9-11,  15.  1978.  Type.  Peru.  Cuzco:  La Convención, Cordillera Vilcabamba, in enclaves of elfin forest of Monte Chico, scattered in the high wet grassland in the summit ridges of Camp 7, ca. 28 km walking distance NE from Hda. Luisiana and the Apurimac River, ca. 3400 m, 17 Jul 1968 (fl), T. R. Dudley 11196 (holotype, NA;  isotype, USM).  Images:  Line-drawing.  SEM of pollen and glandular fimbriae.

        Ascending or lianoid shrub.  Mature stems terete, glabrous;  bark thin, cracking into a reticulum, light brown when dry;  immature twigs subterete, bluntly flattened, smooth or weakly striate, glabrous, reddish-brown when dry.  Leaves coriaceous, opposite, broadly ovate, (1.5-) 2-6.5 x 1.5-4.5 cm, basally shallowly cordate, apically acute or obtuse, entire or obscurely crenate distally with glandular-tipped teeth, glabrous but sparsely reddish-glandular fimbriate beneath;  pinnately-nerved with 2-3 pairs of arcuate lateral nerves which anastomose near the margin, midrib and lateral nerves impressed above and slightly raised beneath, deep wine-red in color beneath (fide label data), veinlets inconspicuous beneath;  petioles terete, stout, glabrous, 3 x 2.5 mm, dark reddish-brown;  pseudostipules paired, ovate-aristate, 4-5 mm long.  Inflorescence axillary, fasciculate, with 2-4 flowers per fascicle;  floral bracts ovate, acuminate, 3-4 x 2 mm, midrib drawn-out into an apiculum, margins, glandular-fimbriate;  pedicels cylindric, striate, continuous with the calyx, glabrous, 30-34 x 1.5 mm, deep red to reddish-purple (fide label data), with scattered glandular fimbriae;  bracteoles basal, similar to floral bracts.  Flowers with calyx glabrous, 15-16 mm long;  hypanthium obconic, slightly rugose, 2.5-4 mm long and 5-6 mm broad at the top;  limb spreading-campanulate, 11-13 mm long including the lobes;  lobes lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, striate, 10-12 x 4 mm, with few caducous marginal fimbriae;  sinuses acute;  corolla cylindric, constricted at the throat, glabrous, 42-49 x 13-16 mm, rosy-pink to red (fide label data), the lobes ovate or oblong-ovate, obtuse or acute, 6-8 x 5-7 mm;  stamens 10, 40-43 mm long;  filaments distinct, alternately 2.5 and 5 mm long, densely short-hirsute on both sides and glandular-fimbriate on the dorsal side;  anthers 37-40 mm long including the tubules;  thecae 6-8 mm long, granular, incurved and blunt at the base; tubules dehiscing by elongate slits (3-)5-8 mm long;  style 50-53 mm long, deep pink to red;  stigma purple (fide label data).  Fruit unknown.

        Distribution.  Endemic to Peru, and known only from the type collection.  Rare and endangered.