Caudex erect; fronds of smaller plants with wholly winged rachis, the stipe also at least partly winged (width of wing variable), basal pinnae of largest plants free with slightly decurrent bases or joined to the rachis-wing (see Holttum 1955: f. 302); stipe of largest fronds to 60 cm long, basal scales c. 10 × 1 mm, the lowest with fragile margins; lamina to 60 cm long, thin, consisting of a 3-5-lobed apex and 3 pairs of pinnae or pinna-like lobes which when nearly free are narrowed towards their bases; basal pinnae sometimes with a winged stalklike base and a large basiscopic lobe; pinnae or lobes of fertile fronds narrower than those of sterile ones which may be 7 cm wide; minute hairs present on both surfaces of costae only; main veins of pinnae 8-10 mm apart along the costa, upcurved, the cross-veins rather regular with many areoles between them; sori numerous, very irregular in shape, on free veins in areoles and also along connected veins, often coalescent to linear forms, exindusiate.
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