Prostrate, rhizomatous subshrub to 2 dm tall;  mature stems subterete, striate, glabrous, grayish- to reddish-brown;  twigs subterete, striate, puberulent;  buds ovate, complanate, with reddish-brown scales.  Leaves thin-coriaceous, oblong-elliptic, obovate to oblanceolate, broadest above middle, 0.6-1.5 x 0.3-0.6(-1) cm, base cuneate, attenuate, apex acute or rounded but short-mucronate, margin slightly recurved, bluntly and broadly serrate, glabrous on both surfaces;  midrib slightly raised or impressed, often inconspicuous on both surfaces, lateral nerves (1-2 per side) slightly raised but often obscure on both surfaces, reticulate veinlets often obscure on both surfaces;  petiole subterete, flattened above, 0.5-1 mm long, weakly puberulent.  Inflorescence axillary, flowers solitary;  pedicels subterete, 3-4 mm long, elongating to 7 mm and apparently swelling distally in fruit, weakly puberulent;  bracteoles 5-6, scattered, clasping and partially obscuring pedicel, ovate, 1-2.5 x 0.8-1.3(-2) mm, acute, glabrous but margin glandular-fimbriate, not ciliolate;  floral bract similar to bracteoles, basal, ca. 1 mm long and broad.  Flowers with calyx (1.8-)2.5-3 mm long, lobes ovate, (1.4-)2-2.3 x 1.5-1.7(-2) mm, acute to acuminate, glabrous without, sparsely puberulent distally at tips within; corolla cylindric-campanulate, slightly constricted at throat or broadest there at anthesis, 2-3.5 x 2.5-3.5 mm, glabrous without but pilose within, white to pink, lobes oblong-ovate, obtuse;  stamens 1.7-2.2 mm long;  filaments 1.3-1.6 mm long, glabrous;  anthers 0.6-1 mm long with awns rudimentary, anther distally truncate or apiculately bifid;  ovary glabrous;  style ca. 1-1.4 mm long, glabrous.  Fruiting calyx globose but turbinate when dry, 4-6 mm diam., glabrous, blue-black.

     Distribution (Map).  Endemic to wet, open boggy areas in the campos or cloud forest zone along the eastern edge of the southern planalto of SE Brazil at elevations of l650-2500 m.  Flowering and fruiting occur in both Nov-Jan and May-Jun.  Rare and endangered.

      Common names and usage.  Urze de brade (Santa Catarina). The fruit is reported to be edible (Rambo 60223).