Plants 30-50 cm tall. Rhizome erect, densely covered with lanceolate blackish brown scales. Stipe stramineous, 22-36 cm, 2-3 mm in diam. at base, lower portion scaly; scales blackish brown, ovate or lanceolate, margins ciliate, often twisted. Lamina oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 30-40 × 12-20 cm, base not contracted, 1-imparipinnate, apex obtuse; rachis with sparse linear curved brown scales or glabrous. Lateral pinnae 4-6 pairs, alternate, slightly ascendant, shortly stalked, lanceolate; middle pinnae 10-16 × 2.2-3.5 cm, base cuneate, margins serrulate, apex acuminate or caudate; terminal pinna ovate or rhombic-ovate, forked or trifurcate, 11-13 × 5-8 cm; papery or hard papery, glabrous on both surfaces; venation pinnate, slightly raised on both surfaces, veinlets anastomosing to form 3-5 rows of areoles. Sori throughout abaxial surface of pinnae; indusia margins toothed. 2n = 123*.