Terrestrial shrub arching to 3 m from mostly single stems;  stem glabrous;  twigs densely short-pilose, glaucous.  Leaves elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 10-27 x 3.5-10 cm, base rounded often subcordate, apex short-acuminate, sparsely short-pilose along nerves on both surfaces;  5(-7)-plinerved, inner pair lateral nerves arising ca. 1 cm above base, midrib basally thickened and with the lateral nerves impressed above and conspicuously raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly but noticeably raised on both surfaces;  petiole 5-15 mm long, densely pilose.  Inflorescence paniculate, up to 150-flowered;  primary rachis 12-14(-19) cm long, conspicuously striate and densely short-pilose, each branch subtended by a caducous, membranous, green, ovate, apically obtuse, ciliate bract, ca. 10 mm long;  floral bract caducous, cucullate, ovate, obtuse, 4-5 mm long and broad, ciliate, green;  pedicel 4-5 mm long at anthesis, elongating to ca. 8 mm, short-pilose;  bracteoles basal, subreniform or hemispheric, ca. 0.2 mm long and broad, densely glandular-fimbriate marginally, the fimbriae coalescing distally.  Flowers with calyx ca. 3 mm long;  hypanthium cylindric, slightly pentagonal, ca. 1 mm long, base truncate and glabrous or sparsely short-pilose;  limb campanulate, ca. 2 mm long;  lobes broadly triangular, acute, ca. 0.75 mm long, connivent after anthesis, with a tiny, inconspicuous, oblong gland on each side towards apex;  sinuses rounded;  corolla urceolate, 9-10 mm long, glabrous, mauve to violet with paler lobes, the lobes strongly revolute and tightly appressed to corolla tube, ca. 1 mm long;  stamen 5.6-6 mm long;  filaments slightly coherent at base, alternately 2-2.5 mm and 3-3.2 mm long, ciliate distally, the connectives conspicuously tapering onto tubules of long anthers;  anthers alternately 4-4.2 mm and 3-3.2 mm long;  thecae 1-2.2  mm long;  style ca. 8 mm long.  Berry 8-9 mm diam.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Ecuador;  steep, rocky and moss-covered, exposed roadcut slopes in humid and heavily disturbed forest areas at 615-1200 m altitude;  known from only ca. 5 collections.  Rare and endangered.

    Uses:  Cultivated at ABG, E, NY.