Gaylussacia peruviana Sleumer, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 71: 385.  1941.  Type.  Peru.  Amazonas:  Chachapoyas, Pass of Piscohuanuna, 3000 m, Aug 1938 (fl), Sandeman s.n. (holotype, K, photo NY neg. 13015).

    Shrub to 1.5 m, densely-branched;  stem subterete, bluntly angled, glabrous to  densely whitish or grayish short-pilose, glabrate, glaucous;  twigs subterete, sharply ribbed, reddish when dry, densely whitish or grayish short-pilose.  Leaves coriaceous, thick, flat to slightly concave, elliptic to oblong- or ovate-elliptic, 1.5-2.3 x 0.7-1.2 cm, base broadly cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse or broadly acute, the apex itself terminating in a blunt, thick gland, margin crenate with each tooth 1-2 mm apart and tipped by a reddish glandular hair, also slightly revolute, moderately densely white pilose on both surfaces when young, ± persistent beneath but glabrate except along midrib above when mature, laxly glandular-fimbriate beneath;  pinnately nerved with 2-3 lateral nerves per side, midrib and lateral nerves strongly impressed or slightly raised above, not very conspicuous, prominently raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly impressed or raised above but obscure on both surfaces;  petiole subterete, strongly canaliculate above, rugose, 2-2.5 mm long, laxly to densely grayish short-pilose or subglabrous, persistent or glabrate.  Inflorescence axillary, racemose, 3-12-flowered;  rachis subterete, bluntly angled, 1.5-4 cm long, subglabrous to moderately grayish short-pilose, also glaucous and with scattered, reddish glandular fimbriae;  floral bract broadly oblong, ca. 5 mm long and ciliate, sometimes leaf-like and pinnately nerved to 12 x 5 mm, pilose, marginally glandular-toothed and ciliate;  pedicel 1-1.5 mm long, subglabrous to densely short-pilose;  bracteoles located near base, leaf-like, ovate to narrowly ovate, acuminate, 3-7 x 1.5-3 mm, glabrous or weakly short-pilose beneath, ciliate.  Flowers with calyx 4-4.5 mm long, sparsely to densely short-pilose;  hypanthium campanulate, 1.8-2 mm long;  limb spreading 2-2.5 mm long;  lobes deltate to narrowly triangular, subacute to acuminate, 1.7-2.5 mm long;  sinuses acute;  corolla cylindric-urceolate, possibly bluntly 5-angled, carnose, 6-9 mm long and ca. 5 mm diam., white with red tint to bright pink or red, glabrous but distally short-pilose, or densely short-pilose all over, the lobes reflexed, deltate-ovate, 1-1.5 mm long;  stamen 4.5-6 mm long;  filaments 2-3 mm long, laxly to densely pilose;  anther 3-4.3 mm long;  thecae oblong,  1.2-1.7 mm long;  tubules narrow, 1.8-2.5 mm long, dehiscing by short, subapical clefts;  style 5-8 mm long, glabrous.  Drupe spherical, ca. 8 mm diam., dark blue-black, glabrous to sparsely pilose.

    Distribution.  Southern Ecuador (4 collections) and N Peru (few collections);  montane cloud forest to páramo at 2600-3400 m altitude.  Rare and probably endangered.