Plants (2-)6-12(-25) cm tall. Rhizome erect, short, apex scaly; scales dark brown to black, narrowly triangular, 2.5-3 mm, entire. Fronds caespitose; stipe 2.5-8(-10) cm, basal part semi-shiny, castaneous or dark brown to black, toward rachis green or stramineous, sparsely covered with small, black, hairlike scales, adaxially sulcate but compressed when dry; lamina lanceolate, 4-6(-16) × 1-2(-5) cm, reduced at base, 2-or 3-pinnatifid; pinnae 7-9(-15) pairs, alternate or subopposite, shortly stalked, middle pinnae largest, elliptic, 5-15(-25) × 3-8(-15) mm, base nearly symmetrical to asymmetrical, truncate to cuneate, 1-or 2-pinnatifid in large plants, apex acute and pinnatifid, without gemma; pinnules or segments 3-5(-7) pairs, alternate, basal acroscopic pinnule largest, oblong to linear, 4-6 × 1-2(-4) mm, apex obtuse, base cuneate, decurrent and adnate to costa, margin serrate-dentate, teeth often long, obtuse to subacute; other pinnules or segments smaller, many adnate to costa. Veins obscure, 2-forked or simple, not reaching margin. Fronds herbaceous to subleathery, gray-green; rachis green or stramineous when dry, rarely brown at base abaxially, adaxially sulcate, with small, dark brown, hairlike scales. Sori 2-4 per pinnule, basal to submedian on subtending vein and thus close to costa or costule, confluent at maturity, linear, 1-1.5 mm; indusia grayish brown to whitish, linear-elliptic, membranous, entire, opening toward costa or costules. Spores with lophate (costate) perispore. Plants tetraploid: 2n = 144.
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