Rhizome long-creeping,rigid, bearing ovate scales up to 2 mm long, each with a midrib of black occluded cells and margins of pale orange-brown open cells. Fronds markedly but inconstantly dimorphic, the sterile usually shorter and with only 2-6 pairs of pinnae. Stipes 3-23 cm long, 1-2 mm diameter; stipes and rachides brittle, erect, dark redbrown throughout, bearing dense, appressed, orangebrown scales, mostly short and hair-like, but some up to 4 mm long and narrowly ovate with long filiform apices. Laminae narrowly elliptic to linear, pinnate, 3-25 × 1. 5-5.5 cm. Pinnae in 2-20 pairs, 0. 8-4.0 × 0. 4-1.5 cm, the sterile ones ± round or oblong with obtuse apices and truncate bases, the fertile ones ± triangular or slightly falcate with acute or acuminate apices and truncate or slightly cordate bases, margins minutely toothed, the lower ones widely spaced on short stalks, the upper ones close together and almost sessile, the terminal one sometimes greatly enlarged on sterile fronds, glossy green on upper surface, paler below, bearing scattered hair-like scales on both surfaces. Sori continuous along upper and lower pinna margins, usually confluent at apex of pinna. Sporangia with 64 spores. Spores trilete, echinate, ± spherical, (31.8) 35.9- 40.5 (45.2) mcm diameter (6 populations).

Rhizoma repens, rigidum, paleis ovatis usque ad 2 mm longis costis nigris ornatis. Frondes dimorphae. Stipites 3-23 cm longis, 1-2 mm diametro; stipites rhachidesque erecta, rufescentia, paleis densis adpressis, ferrugineis, usque ad 4 mm longis. Lamina anguste elliptica vel linearis.pinnata, 3-25 X 1.5-5.5 cm. Pinnae 2-20-jugatae, 0. 8—4.0 X 0. 4—1.5 cm, steriles + rotundae vel oblongae apicibus obtusis et basibus truncatis, fertiles ± triangulares vel leviter falcatae apicibus acutis vel acuminatis etbasibus truncatis vel leviter cordatis, marginibus serrulatis, inferiores remotae petiolis brevibus, superiores approximatae et fere sessiles, pinna terminalis interdum grandissima. Sori continui secus margines superiores inferioresque pinnarum, plerumque confluentes ad apices. Sporae triletae, echinatae, ± sphaericae, (31.8) 35.9-40.5 (45.2) mcm diametro.