Terrestrial on rocky slopes; stem to 3 cm diam.; roots spreading-descending, whitish, appearing pubescent when fresh, thick, rather short, prominently tapered; cataphylls subcoriaceous, lanceolate, longer than petioles, acuminate at apex, drying brown, persisting as fine linear fibers. Leaves erect-spreading to spreading; petioles 5–22 cm long, 10–15 mm diam., D-shaped, flattened and with a medial rib to broadly and sharply sulcate adaxially with the margins prominently raised, 5–8 ribbed abaxially, the surface pale-speckled; geniculum thicker and paler than petiole, 1–1.5 cm long; sheath 6–8 cm long; blades coriaceous, obtuse to acute at apex, rounded to acute at base, (23)43–101 cm long, 8–29 cm wide, broadest at or near the middle, the margins prominently undulate; upper surface matte to semiglossy, dark green, lower surface matte to weakly glossy, paler, both surfaces drying yellowish green; midrib flat at base, becoming acutely raised toward the apex and conspicuously paler than surface above, prominently higher than broad at base, becoming acutely raised toward the apex below; primary lateral veins 10–15 per side, departing midrib at 45–60 degree angle, ascending more or less straight to near margin, then arcuate-ascending and merging with margin, prominently convexly raised above and below; tertiary veins rominulous when dried above and below; collective vein arising from near the apex, raised above and below when dried, usually less than 5 mm from margin. Inflorescences more or less erect, equaling or longer than leaves; peduncle 46–91 cm long, 10–17 mm diam., 4–5 times as long as petiole, subterete to 1-ribbed; spathe reflexed, coriaceous, green, long-lanceolate, 29–35 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, broadest near base; spadix dark purple pre-anthesis), becoming greenish brown, long-tapered, 23.5–42 cm long, 10–12 mm diam. near base, 5–7 mm diam. near apex; flowers 4-lobed, 2.2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; 14–15 flowers visible in principal spiral, 7–9 in alternate spiral; tepals weakly and minutely papillate; pistils weakly emergent; anthers ca. 0.5 mm long. Infructescence 2.5–3 cm diam.; berries dark purple at apex, obovoid.

Type: Ecuador. Imbabura: W slopes of Volcan Cotatachi, 0°22'N, 78°20'W, Sodiro s.n. (B, holotype; QPLS, isotype).

Imbabura: Salinas--Lita, 1340 m, Kress et al. 88-2283 (SEL); Salinas--Lita highway at the Río Mira gorge, 900--1000 m, 0°45'N, 78°15'W, Juncosa 2262 (K, MO); Sector San Jose de Sigsipamba, Carretera a San Francisco, 2900 m, 0°21'N, 77°53'W, Tipaz et al. 1614 (MO, QCNE); Ibarra--Lita Road just E of La Carolinia, 1000 m, Croat 71853 (B, MO, US, WU); Tercer Paso, on San Lorenzo RR, 1100 m, Madison et al. 4960 (MO, SEL); Volcán Cotacachi, W slopes, Sodiro s.n. (B (#12309), QPLS). Río Meta: Ibarra--Lita, E of La Carolina, border of Carchi Prov., 1090 m, Croat 38986 (MO); along road between Ibarra and Lita at Km 51.3, 1500 m, Cobb 21E (MO, QCA). Cultivated plants from Atlanta Botanical Garden 91-2004, road from Ibarra to Lita, Croat 79408 (MO).