Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub to 2.5 m tall, glabrous except for filaments;  mature branches terete, smooth, reddish-gray to gray;  twigs subterete, striate, glaucous, reddish-brown.  Leaves ovate or ovate-oblong, (4.5-)6-13 x (2.0-)3.5-6.5 cm, basally broadly rounded or truncate, apically caudate-acuminate;  5-7(-9)-plinerved from near base, midrib thickened and raised through proximal 8 mm otherwise thin and weakly impressed above, raised beneath, lateral nerves plane to weakly impressed above and raised beneath, veinlets obscure on both surfaces;  petioles terete, somewhat rugose, 5-9 mm long and 1-1.5 mm diam.  Inflorescence 12-32-flowered, the lowest 4-5 nodes sterile;  rachis subterete, smooth, 9-10.2 cm long and 3-3.5 mm diam., slightly thicker at midpoint, nodes conspicuously thickened;  floral bracts persistent, strongly involute, oblong to ovate-oblong, 22-26 x 10-14 mm, apically obtuse, marginally scarious, dorsally glandular-fimbriate, red when fresh;  pedicels terete, smooth, 2-6 mm long and 0.8-2.5 mm diam., distally slightly broadened and bearing numerous oblong-angular, peltate, fleshy, black to reddish-black glands to 0.3 mm long;  bracteoles basal or medial, oblong-ovate, 0.3-0.8 mm long, marginally conspicuously glandular callose.  Flowers:  calyx 3.5-5 mm long;  hypanthium cylindric to obprismatic, drying bluntly 5-10-ribbed, ca. 1.5-2.5 mm long, basally rounded;  limb erecto-patent to campanulate, 1.5-3 mm long, usually longer than hypanthium;  lobes triangular, apiculate, 0.5-1 mm long, connivent after anthesis, each margin with an oblong, callose gland ca. 1.5 mm long these not contiguous at lobe tip;  sinuses broadly rounded to flat;  corolla cylindric, 20-22 mm long and 5.5-8 mm diam., red when fresh, lobes oblong-deltoid, 1.5-2 mm long, strongly reflexed at anthesis;  stamens 17.5-18.5 mm long;  filaments densely villous with flat trichomes the distal half ventrally, alternately 2-4 mm and 5-8 mm long;  anthers alternately 16-18 mm and 13-15 mm long;  thecae 3-7 mm long;  style subequal to corolla.  Berry 10-11 mm diam.

    Distribution (Map).  Endemic to Colombia and known only from the western slopes of the Cordillera Occidental in Nariño and Valle Depts., along stream and road margins, at elevations of 700-2050 m.  Collected in flower in various months, especially February-April, and in fruit in March.  Rare and endangered.

    Local names. quereme, quereme macho (Valle).