Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub 1-2 m tall, sometimes arising from a lignotuber;  stem terete, striate, minutely puberulent or glabrous, glabrate;  twigs terete to subterete, striate, puberulent, glabrate.  Leaves coriaceous to subcoriaceous, ovate-elliptic, elliptic, oblong-elliptic to broadly ovate or suborbicular, (3-)6-11(-16) x (2.5-)4-8(-10) cm, base rounded and (sub)cordate, clasping to amplexicaul, apex rounded or obtuse, margin entire, glabrous;  pinnately nerved with 3-4 pairs of lateral nerves per side, the inner lateral nerves arising from 1-5 cm above the base, midrib thickened and raised in the proximal 0.5-2 cm and then impressed distally above, prominently raised beneath, lateral nerves slightly impressed or plane above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces;  petiole subterete, stout, rugose, 1-4 mm long, essentially glabrous.  Inflorescence axillary, racemose, (2-)5-8-flowered, puberulous or glabrous on all external surfaces;  rachis subterete, striate, (0.4-)1-2(-6) cm long;  floral bract ovate-oblong, acute to acuminate, 1.5-2.5 mm long, ciliolate;  pedicel subterete, striate, 8-16 mm long;  bracteoles located at apex of pedicel or just below, rarely medial or basal, triangular-ovate, acute to acuminate, 1-1.5 mm long, ciliolate, sometimes at base dorsally 1-2 circular, concave, dark glands ca. 0.2 mm diam.  Flowers with calyx 4.5-9 mm long;  hypanthium obprismatic, 5-angled or narrowly winged to sinuses, 3-6 mm long, the apex of wings appearing like calyx lobes and about as long or slightly longer;  limb campanulate, 1.5-3 mm long;  lobes apiculate, ca. 0.2-0.3 mm long;  sinuses rounded;  corolla carnose, cylindric-urceolate, pentagonal to narrowly angled or ribbed, 17-22 mm long and 5-6 mm diam., the lobes oblong-triangular, acute, ca. 2 mm long, lacking spurs;  stamen equal, 9.5-12 mm long;  filaments connate into a tube 2.5-4 mm long, the connectives slightly shouldered at apex;  anthers 7.5-10 mm long;  thecae 3.5-6 mm long;  tubules fused into one, 3-4 mm long, dehiscing by a cleft ca. 2 mm long;  style equalling the corolla or exserted, glabrous.  Immature berry 10 mm diam.

    Distribution.  Endemic to Ecuador;  tropical rainforest to premontane forest, at 150-1830 m altitude.

    Local name:  sagalita.

    Cultivted:  ABG, NCSC, SEL.