Evergreen erect shrub to ca. 3.5 m tall, with gray, longitudinally furrowed bark; twigs slightly angled, slender, moderately to densely lepidote, otherwise glabrous; buds ovoid, 1-2 x ca. 1 mm.  Leaf blades  ovate, 1-2.5(-3) x 0.7-1.7(-2.5) cm, ± flat, coriaceous, ca. 0.35-0.45 mm thick; base broadly cuneate to rounded; apex acute to truncate; margin plane to slightly revolute, apical portion usually strongly and irregularly toothed, basal portion obscurely toothed to entire; venation brochidodromous, 3o veins ± reticulate; adaxial surface roughened by thickened scale bases, lepidote but scales usually quickly deciduous, usually sparsely pubescent on basal portion of midvein, with 2o and higher order veins obscure (2o veins very slightly depressed); abaxial surface moderately to densely lepidote, otherwise densely pubescent, with all veins raised to form dense, fine reticulum, often not visible without magnification; scales usually brown to dark brown, usually ± persistent, ca. 0.07-0.27 mm in diameter, erose; petiole 1-4 mm long, lepidote, otherwise adaxially pubescent; flower buds ± intermixed with vegetative buds.  Inflorescences fasciculate, ca. 4- to 8-flowered; pedicels clearly articulated with calyx, slender, 2-6 mm long, lepidote, otherwise glabrous; bracteoles opposite, basal, narrowly triangular, 1-1.5 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 2 mm long.  Flowers 4- or 5-merous; calyx lobes triangular, with acuminate apices, 0.9-2 x 0.7-1 mm, adaxial side sparsely pubescent at margins and near apex, abaxial side lepidote, otherwise glabrous; corolla cylindrical, white, 3-5.5 x 2-3 mm, abaxially sparsely lepidote; filaments roughened, 2.5-3 mm long, unappendaged; anthers 0.8-1 mm long; ovary lepidote, otherwise pubescent, placentae ± subapical.  Capsules ovoid to narrowly ovoid or less commonly ellipsoid, 2.5-5 x 1.5-3.5 mm, apex not constricted, slightly lepidote, otherwise sparsely pubescent, the pale, very thick sutures separating as unit from adjacent valves; seeds 1.7-2.5 mm long.

    Distribution.  Endemic to the Dominican Republic (Cordillera Central), in high-elevation Pinus occidentalis forests, at ca. 2000-2400 m elev.  Seldom collected in flower, but probably blooming chiefly in spring.