Rhizome shortly creeping, stiff, apex densely scaly; scales blackish brown, linear-subulate, to 9 × 1 mm, firmly membranous, apex attenuate or hairlike. Fronds approximate, 0.8-1.2 m; stipe stramineous, 45-65 cm, 3-6 mm in diam., lower parts densely scaly with scales similar to those on rhizome, upward diminishing to glabrescent; lamina 4(or 5)-pinnate, yellowish green when dried, oblong-ovate, 35-60 × 25-40 cm, thinly papery, base rounded or slightly cordate, apex acuminate, rachis ± glabrescent; pinnae 10-15 pairs, alternate or lowest pair opposite, with to 2.5 cm stalk, obliquely spreading; lowest pinnae deltoid-lanceolate, 30-40 × 12-17 cm, base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate; primary pinnules 12-18 pairs, with to 1.2 cm stalk, obliquely spreading, basal basiscopic one broadly lanceolate (to 14 × 4 cm), base cuneate, apex acuminate; secondary pinnules 10-12 pairs, shortly stalked, deltoid-lanceolate, proximal ones ca. 3.5 × 1.5 cm, base cuneate, apex acute or obtuse; tertiary (and quaternary) pinnules sessile, oblong, 7-10 × 3-5 mm, base obliquely cuneate with acroscopic side wider, apex obtuse, margin sharply serrate or pinnatifid, weakly mucronate; upper pinnae gradually reduced; axes and veins of ultimate segments with minute scattered darkish hairlike scales abaxially. Sori small, terminal on veinlets, 1-3 pairs per ultimate segment, medial between midvein and margin; indusia brown, membranous, entire, and fugacious.