Rhizome woody, ascending or creeping, up to 40 cm. long, densely clad in pale brown subulate-attenuate paleae c. 2 cm. long; stipites distributed, but us. crowded. Stipes stout, pale brown, ± asperous, paleate at base or throughout, 10-20-(50) cm. long. Rhachis stout, grooved, rather densely paleate on upper surface when young, bearing alt. to subopp. pinnae in up to 30 pairs. Sterile lamina dark green above, paler below, thinly coriac., harsh, broadly ovate-oblong to lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, (10)-15-50-(100) cm. or more × (5)-10-30 cm. or more. Lower pinnae us. shorter than mid, often obtuse. Larger pinnae 7-15-(30) × 1-3 cm., attached by costa, lanceolate to oblong, acuminate; costa grooved above, prominent below, ± paleate; base cuneately truncate to subcordate or auriculate; margins finely serrate; veinlets close-set, simple or forked. Terminal pinna up to 20 cm. long or more. Fertile lamina 15-50 cm. or more × 8-20 cm, lanceolate-oblong; pinnae 5-25 cm. × 3-5 mm., ascending to patent, distant, linear, us. abruptly widened at base by sterile auricles. Lower pinnae often shorter, broader, ovate-oblong, partly or completely sterile. Sori covering undersurface, costa us. visible, indusium becoming erose.
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