Terrestrial shrub to 3 m tall, from lignotuber to 2 m diam.;  stem terete to subterete, strongly bluntly ribbed, nitid, slightly puberulous, glabrate;  twigs subterete, complanate to bluntly or sharply angled, striate, densely short-pilose, glabrate.  Leaves coriaceous, elliptic, ovate-elliptic, to rarely obovate, (2.3-)3-6.5(-9.5) x (1-)1.5-2.7(-4) cm, base obtuse to cuneate, apex obtuse or subacute, margin entire or faintly crenulate and sometimes slightly revolute near base, glabrous on both surfaces but deciduously minutely glandular-fimbriate beneath;  pinnately nerved with 2-3 lateral nerves per side, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves arcuate-ascending, slightly impressed or plane above and slightly raised beneath, reticulate veinlets obscure;  petiole subterete, flattened above, narrowly winged, rugose, 3-6(-8) mm long.  Inflorescence subfasciculate, 2-4-flowered, surrounded at base by a few, triangular, puberulous, ciliate bracts ca. 2 mm long;  floral bract sometimes coriaceous and dark in color at base becoming membranous and a lighter color distally, ovate, acute to acuminate, ca. 3-4 x 2.5-3 mm, dorsally short-pilose, glabrate;  pedicel subterete, ribbed, 3-8(-10) mm long, densely short-pilose with pale spreading hairs ca. 0.2 mm long;  bracteoles basal to medial, similar to floral bract but ca. 3(-4) mm long, usually with 1-2 circular, concave, blackish glands ca. 0.2-0.3 mm diam. at the base on either side of the midrib.  Flowers with calyx 7-12.5 mm long, obscurely articulate with pedicel, short-pilose;  hypanthium obprismatic, 10-ribbed to sharply 5(-6)-angled (narrowly winged), 2-3.5 mm long and 3 mm diam.;  limb spreading-erect, 5-9 mm long;  lobes 5(-6), striate to ribbed, lanceolate, acute-acuminate, 4.5-9 x 2-2.5 mm, marginally deciduously glandular-fimbriate;  sinuses acute;  corolla cylindric, 5(-6)-angled, 15-20 mm long and 4-6 mm diam., densely short-pilose, pale pink to red, the lobes spreading, oblong-ovate, bluntly acute, 1.5-3.5 mm long;  stamen 10(-12), 7.5-10.5 mm long;  filaments distinct, 0.5-3 mm long, glabrous;  anthers ca. 9 mm long;  thecae 3.5-5.5 mm long;  tubules 2, laterally connate to tip, rarely the tubules completely fusing to 1 (and then dehiscing through one cleft), ca. 3-3.5 mm long, dehiscing by clefts to 2 mm long;  style about as long as corolla or exserted, glabrous.  Mature berry not seen, but immature at least 15 mm diam., glabrous.

    Distribution.  Ecuador and Peru;  montane forest, southern Ecuadorean scrub vegetation, roadside slopes, at (1500-)2160-3400 m altitude.

    Local name:  Ecuador: joyapa.

    Cultivated:  E.