It is a shrub which measures from 1.5 m to 7 m in height. The leaves are simple, alternate, elliptical to oval in shape, coriaceous (leathery), with a sharp, slight apiculate apex, cuneate base and a crenate margin. The flowers are tetramerous, or sometimes pentamerous, with a white corolla, possibly marked with pink or red. The inflorescence is racemic, producing 10 to 15 flowers per raceme. The fruits are round, approximately 1.2 cm in diameter, green during growth and dark red (giving the appearance of black or violet) upon reaching maturity, with an acid taste.Ruiz Pérez, Gimena (2011) «Mortiño, fruta promisoria para la salud y la economía del país.» un Periódico 145.Castañeda Riascos, Ivonne Marcela (2006) «Caracterización y divulgación del conocimiento de poblaciones de (Vaccinium meridionales) mortiño, presentes en los bosques alto andinos de la jurisdicción de Corantioquia. Segunda fase.» Tesis de grado. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín.
