Small shrub, usually less than 1(2) m tall; stems with 1 or 2 vertical bands of short, simple, erect trichomes. Reduced leaves in axils often 1 to several; stipules paired, persistent, bristle-like, to 2.5 mm long; petioles 5-25 mm long, short-pubescent on upper side; blades ovate to elliptic, acute to acuminate, rounded to subcordate at base, 2-7 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, nearly glabrous, crenate-serrate; palmate veins at base 3. Pedicels 4-8 mm long; flowers 1-3, in axils or opposite leaves, 5-parted; sepals linear-lanceolate, ca 8 mm long, glabrous; petals obovate, ca 6 mm long, glabrous, yellow; stamens numerous, free, ca 5 mm long; style ca 2.5 mm long; stigma subbilobed, densely papillate. Capsules linear, erect, 4-6 cm long, ca 2 mm diam, minutely puberulent; seeds numerous, ca 1 mm long. Aviles 12. Probably once abundant when the island was weedier; not seen in recent years, but to be expected in the larger clearings. Seasonal behavior uncertain. Elsewhere in Panama flowering most abundantly in the rainy season, with the fruits seen during the dry season.