Ceratostema megalobum Luteyn, Fl. Ecuador 54: 221.  1996.  Type.  Ecuador.  Loja:  ca. 10 km SW of Loja, along rd past University towards La Violeta, 2950 m, 26 Apr 1987 (fl), van der Werff & Palacios 9091 (holotype, AAU;  isotypes, MO, NY).  Images:  Habit.  Flowers.

        Epiphytic shrub arising from lignotuber;  stem terete to subterete, bluntly ribbed, glabrous, the bark cracking longitudinally;  twigs subterete, complanate and bluntly angled, striate, glabrous;  bud scales narrowly ovate, acuminate, 2-2.5 mm long, glabrous.  Leaves subcoriaceous, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, (2.6-)4-6 x (-0.5)1-2 cm, base obtuse to broadly cuneate and short-attenuate, apex acuminate or acute, margin slightly revolute, glabrous;  pinnately-nerved with 2-3 pairs of ascending-arcuate nerves, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves inconspicuous, slightly raised on both surfaces, reticulate veinlets unnoticed above and obscurely slightly raised beneath;  petiole subterete, slightly winged, rugose, 3-10 mm long, glabrous.  Inflorescence solitary, axillary, racemose, (1-)2-4(-5)-flowered, surrounded at base by few, ovate, acute, glabrous bracts ca. 2 mm long;  rachis subterete, striate to ribbed, 1-1.5(-4) cm long, glabrous;  floral bract ovate, acute to acuminate, 2-5 mm long, margin ciliolate and glandular-fimbriate;  pedicel subterete, ribbed, 17-25 mm long, glabrous;  bracteoles nearly basal, similar to floral bract but 2-4 mm long.  Flowers with calyx articulate, 28-35 mm long at anthesis, glabrous;  hypanthium somewhat campanulate, sharply 5-winged, 5-6 mm long;  limb erect-spreading, strongly veined, rugose, 23-30 mm long;  lobes triangular, long-acuminate, 19-25 x ca. 7 mm, eglandular;  sinuses acute;  corolla cylindric, expanding slightly distally, apparently terete, 40-45 mm long and 6-8 basal diam., glabrous, red (fide label), the lobes triangular, acute, 8-9 mm long, the margin pale red (fide label);  stamens (from corolla 40 mm long) 10, alternately slightly unequal, 36.5-37.5 mm long;  filaments distinct, ca. 4 mm long,  glabrous;  anthers nearly equal,  34.5-35 mm long;  thecae alternately slightly unequal, 10-11.5 mm long;  tubules connate in proximal half, longer than thecae, ca. 25 mm long, dehiscing by oblique pores ca. 1 mm long;  style shortly exserted, glabrous.  Berry not seen.

        Distribution.  Endemic to Ecuador, and known only from five collections;  disturbed montane cloud forest and dry scrub at 2700-2950 m altitude.  Rare and probably endangered.