Polystichum formosum Tindale

Rhizome densely scaly; scales uniform, lanceolate, 4-14 mm long, 2-7 mm wide, dull brown (rarely with a few narrower and inconspicuous scales at stipe bases). Fronds 30-70 cm long. Stipe 10-22 cm long, fawn or pale yellow; stipe and rachis with small densely fringed fugacious scales. Lamina 2-3-pinnate, 15-60 cm long, 5.5-25 cm wide, dark green, coriaceous, lacking proliferous buds. Pinnules 6-25 mm long, 4-10 mm wide; marginal lobes sharply toothed; apex with a short spine that is usually of similar length to the marginal teeth. Indusium brown, sometimes with a dark centre, fugacious. Spores dark brown to black.

Grows in rainforest in stream beds, gorges near waterfalls and on steep slopes.