Terrestrial subshrub to 3 dm tall, rooted in deep moss layer;  stems slightly flexuous, terete, densely hispid with ferrugineous hairs ca. 0.5 mm long.  Leaves coriaceous, concave when fresh and dry, ovate, 6-11 x 4-9 mm, basally subcordate, apically obtuse to acute, marginally often convolute or involute near base when dry and densely hispid-ciliate, glabrous or weakly hispid above, sparsely hispid beneath;  inconspicuously 3-plinerved.  Inflorescence of axillary, solitary, sessile flowers partially hidden by the leaves, subtended by ca. 5 bracts, the upper two largest, ± oblong, erose, clasping the base of the calyx, ca. 1 mm long and broad.  Flowers: calyx hispid, 4-5 mm long;  hypanthium ovoid, ca. 3.5 mm long;  limb campanulate, 0.5-1.5 mm long;  lobes apiculate, less than 0.5 mm long;  corolla subcylindric, 5 mm long, pilose in the distal 3 mm, white to pink when fresh, the lobes ovate, acute, tufted-pilose, reflexed, ca. 0.5 mm long;  stamens 8, equal, 4 mm long;  filaments 2-2.2 mm long, marginally pilose;  anthers ca. 1.7 mm long;  thecae ca. 0.6 mm long.  Berry ellipsoid, lavender when fresh, 13 x 10 mm;  seeds covered by a mucilaginous sheath, the embryos green and sometimes germinating within the berry.

     Distribution.  Endemic to west-central Colombia and known only from the type collection.  Rare and endangered.