Terrestrial shrub with stems to 2 m long;  branches terete, minutely striate, hispid with hairs to 1.5 mm long.  Leaves ovate or oblong-ovate, 7-16 x 2.5-5.5 cm, basally subcordate, apically acuminate, glabrous above and short-hispid beneath;  5-7(-9)-plinerved, midrib and lateral nerves impressed proximally and plane distally above but raised beneath causing leaves to be somewhat bullate basally, reticulate veinlets slightly raised but inconspicuous on both surfaces;  petioles terete, rugose, hispid, 2-7 mm long and 1-2 mm in diam.  Inflorescence ca. 25-flowered, the flowers restricted to distal 3/4 of inflorescence;  rachis subterete, densely hispid, 3.5-4.5 cm long and 2 mm in basal diam. becoming 3.5 mm in diam. distally;  floral bracts subcoriaceous, conspicuously stiate, appressed to flowers, ovate, acute, ca. 35 x 17 m, densely short-pilose on both surfaces, those of proximal 1/4 of inflorescence subtending sterile nodes, persistent, spreading to reflexed, those of distal 3/4 of inflorescence subtending flowers;  pedicels ca. 0.5 mm long, short-pilose;  bracteoles lacking.  Flowers:  calyx densely short-pilose, 12 mm long;  hypanthium cylindric, 2.5-3 mm long;  limb 9.5-10 mm long;  lobes triangular, acuminate, 5-6 mm long, eglandular;  sinuses obtuse;  corolla cylindric, densely short-pilose over entire length, ca. 28 mm long, lobes deltoid, 1-2 mm long;  stamens alternately ca. 12 mm and 13.5 mm long;  filaments glabrous, alternately 2.5 mm and 4.5 mm long;  anthers alternately 11.2-12 mm and 9.5-10.5 mm long;  thecae alternately 3.5-4 mm and 4-4.5 mm long;  dehiscence through clefts 2-3 mm long.  Berry not seen.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Colombia and known only from the type collection, which was collected in undisturbed cloud forest, at an elevation of 2000-2075 m. Rare and endangered.