Plants ca. 25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, 1.5-2.5 mm in diam., densely scaly at tip; scales black, narrowly lanceolate, 2.8-3.5 × 0.5-1 mm, very thick in texture, basifixed, margin with long spines, apex long acuminate; lumina fine and dense, opaque, apex long acuminate. Fronds ca. 1 cm apart; stipe straw-colored, ca. 2 cm, 1-1.5 mm in diam., base covered with black scales; lamina grayish brown when dried, narrowly lanceolate, 15-25 × 0.4-0.8(-1) cm, widest 1/3-1/2 way from base, softly leathery, both surfaces smooth, base attenuate, decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised, veinlets obscure. Sori on narrow distal part of lamina, close to margin and usually protruding beyond when mature, rarely not, elliptic or orbicular, 2-3 mm in diam.; paraphyses orbicular, 0.25-0.35 mm in diam., margins with long and strong spines; center opaque, lumina walls thickened.