Stem usually creeping (once reported erect, 1/2 m high), densely covered like the bases of the stipes with soft golden brown shining hairs c. 3 cm long. Stipes to 75 cm, glabrescent and smooth above the base; lamina 100-250 cm long, lowest pinnae not greatly reduced; largest pinnae 20-30 by 5-9 cm, bearing free pinnules for 1/2-2/3 of their length, apical part deeply lobed; sterile pinnules 6-8 mm wide, fertile 5-6 mm wide, separated by gaps of c. 2 mm; pinnules slightly oblique, their costules falcate, asymmetric at the base (rounded to cordate on basiscopic side, broadly truncate and sometimes auricled on acroscopic side), edges almost parallel except towards apex; lower surface of pinna-rachis, costules of pinnae and sometimes veins bearing more or less abundant spreading hairs 1 mm long. Sori 1.5-2 mm apart, at ends of all veins on fertile pinnules (on acroscopic branch if vein is forked). Spores bearing on their surface a fine irregular slightly raised reticulum.