Stems ascending. Leaves erect, 1--2.5 dm; bulblets absent. Petiole 1/10--1/5 length of leaf, sparsely scaly; scales light brown, gradually diminishing in size distally. Blade linear, 1-pinnate-pinnatifid, base narrowed. Pinnae rhombic-ovate to short-falcate, proximal pinnae ± triangular; pinnae overlapping, twisted somewhat out of plane of blade, 0.5--1.5 cm; base oblique, acroscopic auricle well developed; margins shallowly incised to merely dentate or serrulate, teeth spreading and spiny at tip; apex acute with subapical and apical teeth same size; microscales lanceolate with few projections, confined to costa, on abaxial surface only. Indusia entire. Spores dark brown. 2 n = 164.