Type (lectotype, designated here): HAITI. Near Gonaïves, Morne Balance, wet shrubland, July 1901, W. Buch 658 (GH barcode 00001796!; syntype B [destroyed]).

Shrub 1 m tall, branches densely white tomentose; leaves ovate-lanceolate, with a finely serrate margin, base acute or cuneate, apex acute, petiole 1.0– 1.8 cm long, blade 7.5–10.3 cm long by 2.8–3.5 cm wide, abaxial surface obscured by dense white pubescence and golden glandular trichomes, adaxial surface sparsely pubescent; inflorescence of dense terminal racemes, flowers and bracts obscuring the inflorescence axis, verticillasters comprising 12–20 flowers, subtending bracts ± persistent, ovate with a caudate apex, 8.0–11.0 mm long and 3.3–10.0 mm wide, violet to purple; pedicel 0.8–1.0 mm long; calyx 8.0– 8.3 mm long and 2.5–3.3 mm wide, lobes 2.3–2.4 mm long, violet to purple; corolla 10.1 mm long, white; filament 1.1 mm long; connective 6.6 mm long, the posterior arm of the connective paddle-shaped, 3.7 mm long; anthers 1.2 mm long by 0.4 mm wide, dorsifixed, not versatile; style not seen; mericarps not seen.

Distribution and habitat:—The species is apparently endemic to Mt. Balance, in the Massif du Nord, Haiti (fig. 1) and is found at 800–960 m elevation, in thickets and disturbed, open places.

Etymology:—The epithet was chosen to honor Wilhelm Buch (1862–1943), a German pharmacist and plant collector, who explored Haiti and made extensive collections for Ignatz Urban of the Museum and Botanical Garden of Berlin.

Taxonomic remarks:—The most recent collection of this species was the Ekman specimen from 1925, some 90 years ago. Relocating and recollecting this species should be a high priority for conservation. The dense, upright spikes and colorful, persistent bracts (fig. 2) of this species make it exceptionally ornamental and recommend it to cultivation.

Additional specimens examined:— HAITI. Dept. Artibonite: Massif du Nord, Gros-Morne, Mt. Balance, 26 October 1925, E. Ekman H4924 (GH!, K!, NY!, US); La Brand to Mt. Balance, 15 August 1905, G.V. Nash & N. Taylor 1700 (NY!, US).