Nephrolepis falciformis J.Sm.

Habit, rhizome morphology. Plants forming tufts of 2-4 fronds. Runners 1-2 mm thick, frequently branched, branching divaricate. Scales on runners sparse, appressed. Tubers absent. Fronds 150-200 cm long (or more), 9-14 cm wide, stipe 16-45 cm long. Lamina base reduced, tapering over 20-50 cm, basal pinnae 1.5-2.5 cm long, 4.5-5 cm distant, middle pinnae usually strongly falcate (basal and apical pinnae usually far less so). Sterile pinnae 5-6 by 1.1-1.8 cm, herbaceous, thick (often conspicuously pale green when dry), base strongly unequal, basiscopic base rounded, acroscopic base truncate, slightly to distinctly auricled, margin in basal part entire or crenate, apex acute or acuminate. Fertile pinnae 5.3-8 by 1-1.3 cm, with a more distinctly dentate margin than from sterile pinnae. Indument. Basal scales peltate, appressed, 3.5 by 1 mm, central part dark brown, dull, hyaline margin wide, distinct, ciliate throughout, marginal glands absent. Rhachis scales sparse, without a distinctly protracted acumen, appressed, dark, conspicuous especially when dry. Scales on lamina sometimes present, very small, inconspicuous. Hairs on lamina absent, on costa sometimes present, few (usually forming a small group of scattered hairs near the base). Sori submarginal, 21 or 22 pairs on fully fertile pinnae, round, slightly impressed. Indusium reniform, with narrow sinus, attached at sinus.