Rhizomes short, erect, apex densely scaly; scales dark brown, linear-lanceolate, fibriform-tipped, wavy. Fronds caespitose; fertile fronds (30-)50-84 cm; stipe blackish brown, upward light red-purple, (8-)22-28 cm, base 2-3.5 mm in diam., similarly scaly, upward glabrate; lamina 2-pinnate-pinnatilobate, ovate or oblong-ovate, (25-)35-50 × 15-24 cm at middle, base not narrowed or slightly narrowed, apex acuminate or slightly abruptly narrowed; pinnae 10-20 pairs, alternate, spreading or slightly ascending, subsessile, falcate-lanceolate, lower pinnae opposite, basal 2 or 3(or 4) pairs of pinnae slightly shortened, 7-15 × 1.7-4 cm, base slightly narrowed, truncate, alongside rachis, apex caudate-acuminate, descending or spreading; middle pinnae linear-lanceolate, 12-13 × 2.2-3 cm, base equilateral, truncate, broader, pinnate, apex long acuminate; pinnules 16-20 pairs, alternate, basal pinnules subopposite, approximate, ascending or subspreading, subsessile; basal pinnules oblong-lanceolate or deltoid-oblong, 8-16 × 3-7 mm at middle, base inequilateral, truncate, somewhat auriculate on acroscopic side, cuneate on basiscopic side, with small teeth or pinnatilobate to 1/2, apex obtuse to acute; pinnule segments with small teeth at apex; veins inconspicuous adaxially, visible abaxially, pinnate in pinnules, lateral veins 7 or 8 pairs, lower veins forked, upper veins simple, pinnate in auriculate lobes. Lamina thinly papery when dried, pale greenish brown, glabrate on both surfaces; rachis and costae pale red-purple abaxially, with dense brownish short glandular hairs, with thick spines on adaxial side at base of costa or costule. Sori oblong or shortly linear, 3-7 pairs per pinnule (sometimes with 1 or 2 pairs in auriculate lobes), biseriate on both sides of costules, inframedial; indusia brownish, oblong or shortly linear, membranous, entire, persistent. Perispore surface without folds, with granular ornamentation.