Terrestrial shrub, and depending on exposure, low and compact to loose and wiry, rhizomatous;  stem terete to subterete, sometimes angled, glabrate;  twigs subterete, angled, ribbed, densely short-pilose or hispidulous with white hairs, glabrate.  Leaves coriaceous, wrinkled when dry, oblong-ovate to elliptic-ovate, 5-11 x 1.5-5 mm, base obtuse, apex acute to subacute, margin slightly thickened and minutely to conspicuously crenate, glabrous or sometimes short-pilose along midrib above;  obscurely 3-5-plinerved from near base, midrib slightly impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves obscure above but sometimes raised beneath, all nervation essentially obscure;  petiole subterete, striate, somewhat to moderately canaliculate above, ca. 1-1.5 mm long, glabrous or short-pilose.  Inflorescence of solitary, glabrous flowers;  floral bract(s) paired (?), broadly oblong, rounded, striate, ca. 1-1.5 mm long, ciliolate;  pedicel subterete, 1-2.5 mm long, short-pilose;  bracteoles broadly oblong to suborbicular, striate, rounded, 3.5-5 mm long and broad, glabrous but obscurely ciliolate.  Flowers 4-merous, with calyx ca. 5-5.5 mm long, essentially glabrous;  hypanthium cylindric, ca. 2-2.7 mm long;  limb erect-spreading, 2.8-3.5 mm long;  lobes elongate-deltate, subacute, 2.5-3 mm long, sometimes ciliolate;  sinuses obtuse to acute;  corolla campanulate-rotate, 6-10 mm long and ca. 9-11 mm diam. across throat, glabrous, green but tinged red, brick-red or rosey-pink, the lobes strongly reflexed, broadly ovate, acute, 1.5-3.5 mm long;  stamen 8, ca. 7 mm long;  filaments ca. 3.5-5 mm long, densely spreading-hirsute;  anthers ca. 3-4 mm long;  thecae ca. 2.5 mm long;  tubules 2, distinct, equaling thecae or a little shorter, ca. 1.5 mm long, dehiscing by oblique, terminal pores ca. 0.4 mm long;  style slightly exserted at anthesis, glabrous.  Berry spherical, translucent white, to 1.5 cm diam.

    Distribution.  Southern Colombia (1 collection) and Ecuador (common);  montane wet forest to subpáramo and páramo, where sometimes forming extensive mats or growing in Sphagnum bogs at 2600-4400 m altitude.

Cultivated:  E.