Rhizome ascending, densely covered with scales at apex. Fronds caespitose. Stipe stramineous, 40-50 cm, 3-4 mm in diam., base densely scaly; scales black or black in center and white in margin, lanceolate, ca. 1 cm, hairlike at apex; scales sparse upward. Lamina ovate-lanceolate, 35-45 × 25-30 cm, tripinnate. Pinnae 8-12 pairs, opposite or subopposite, ovate-lanceolate, 12-15 × 3-4 cm, sessile or subsessile; basiscopic pinnule obliquely spreading; acroscopic pinnule overlapping rachis. Pinnules 10-12 pairs, ovate-lanceolate, base cuneate or subtruncate, margin pinnatipartite to pinnatisect, apex acute or obtuse; basiscopic pinnules larger than acroscopic pinnules; second basiscopic pinnule on lowest pinna largest, up to 5 × 3 cm. Segments 5-8 pairs, margin toothed, apex rounded. Veins pinnate; veinlets simple, obscure on both surfaces. Lamina herbaceous, pale green, glabrous adaxially, scaly abaxially; scales on rachis black, lanceolate; scales on pinna rachis and costa brown, bullate. Sori on either side of costa; indusia brown, reniform, entire.