Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub with branches to 2 m long;  stem subterete, bluntly angled, glabrous;  twigs subterete to campanulate, bluntly angled, striate, glabrous, youngest parts sometimes moderately glandular-fimbriate, often with a few scattered bracts which are lanceolate, long-acuminate, to 8 mm long.  Leaves thick-coriaceous, brittle, amplexicaul, ovate to elliptic-ovate, 4-10.5 x 2.3-6.5 cm, base cordate-auriculate, the rounded lobes overlapping, apex acute to obtuse, denticulate, or very short-acuminate to long-acuminate, sometimes the apex itself long-mucronate, glabrous, margin entire, slightly revolute, glabrous on both surfaces, but with scattered, minute, glandular fimbriae beneath;  pinnately nerved with 4-5 lateral nerves per side, midrib thickened, raised, and reddish at the base, becoming impressed distally above and conspicuously raised beneath, lateral nerves plane to slightly raised above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets raised on both surfaces but inconspicuous;  petiole thick, subterete, rugose, 2-5 mm long, glabrous, reddish.  Inflorescence axillary, short-racemose, 4-8-flowered;  rachis subterete, bluntly angled, striate, 0.9-2 cm long, glabrous but moderately glandular-fimbriate;  floral bract ovate, acute to acuminate, 2.5-3 mm long, glabrous, marginally glandular-fimbriate;  pedicel subterete, striate, 10-19 mm long, glabrous but glandular-fimbriate;  bracteoles located near middle of pedicel, subopposite, lanceolate, acuminate, 2-2.5 x ca. 0.5 mm, marginally glandular-fimbriate.  Flowers (4-)5-merous, with the calyx (3-)5 mm long, glabrous but glandular-fimbriate;  hypanthium turbinate-campanulate, subterete to pentagonal, often ribbed, 1.5-2.5 mm long;  limb erect-spreading, 2-3 mm long;  lobes broadly triangular, acuminate, 1.2-2 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate;  sinuses acute;  corolla urceolate, somewhat gibbous at base, 7-10 mm long, glabrous, white, the lobes reflexed, triangular, obtuse, ca. 0.8-1 mm long;  stamen 8-9 mm long;  filaments ca. 5 mm long, sparsely pilose;  anthers ca. 4.5 mm long;  thecae ca. 2 mm long, the base sometimes short-mucronate;  tubules ca. 2-2.5 mm long, dehiscing through elongate pores 0.3-0.5 mm long;  style exserted, 6-10 mm long, glabrous;  nectariferous disc annular-pulvinate, glabrous.  Berry spherical, 8-10 mm diam., glabrous, white, capped by persistent calyx limb.

    Distribution.  Endemic to Ecuador, and known only from about seven collections;  premontane to montane cloud forest at 2000-2900 m altitude.  Rare and endangered.

    Cultivated:  E, NY.