Rhizome short, erect, bearing blackish- brown subulate scales up to 25 × 3 mm. Stipes (5)7-25(35) cm long, 2-4 mm diameter, stiff, pale brown at the base, green above, bearing scattered subulate scales 1-4 mm long (Fig. 2). Laminae elliptic or rhombic to ovate, 5-45 × 3.5-20 cm, dark shiny green on upper surface, lighter on undersurface, stiff, erect, glabrous except for a few scattered scales, bipinnate to often tripinnate at base (Fig. 1). Rachis green, or occasionally pale brown on undersurface, bearing a few small scattered scales. Primary pinnae in 6-17 pairs, the upper ones narrowly elliptic to narrowly ovate decreasing regularly in size towards the apex, the lower ones narrowly ovate to ovate, the longest below the middle 2.5-15 × 1-7 cm. Secondary pinnae on the upper primary pinnae ± linear, undivided, with obtuse apices; those on the lower primary pinnae narrowly elliptic or ovate and divided into tertiary pinnae, the longest 1-6 × 0.6-2 cm. Tertiary pinnae usually linear, undivided, up to 10 × 2 mm, occasionally larger and divided into 2-4 ultimate segments, apices obtuse. Sori extending along ultimate pinnules, 2-10 mm long, margins of indusia entire. Spores (34)40-50(52) × (21)26-33(37) mcm (9 populations); perispores prominently winged, sometimes with a few ridges (Fig. 3).

Rhizoma breve, erectum, paleis subulatis fuscis usque ad 25 × 3 mm. Stipes (5)7-25(35) cm longus, 2-4 mm diametro, rigidus, basi brunneus, apice viridis, paleis subulatis 1-4 mm longis distantibus. Lamina elliptica, rhombica yel ovata, 5-45 × 3.5-20 cm, pagina superiori atroviridi inferiori subviridi, rigida, erecta, glabra, paleis distantibus, apice bipinnata, basi saepe tripinnata. Rhachis viridis, interdum pagina inferiori brunnea, paleis parvis distantibus. Pinnae primariae 6-17-jugatae, superiores anguste ellipticae vel anguste ovatae, apicem versus ordinate decrescentes, inferiores anguste ovatae vel ovatae, longissirnae infra medium 2.5-15 × 1-7cm. Pinnae secundariae pinnarum primariorum superiorum + lineares, integrae, apicibus obtusis; pinnarum primariorum inferiorum anguste ellipticae vel ovatae, pinnis tertiariis, longissimae 1-6 × 0.6-2 cm. Pinnae tertiariae plerumque lineares, integrae, usque ad 10 × 2 mm, interdum segmentis 2-4 ultimis, apicibus obtusis. Sori elongati secus pinnulas ultimas, 2-10 mm longi, marginibus indusiorum integris. Sporae (34)40-50(52) × (21)26-33(37) mcm; perisporae manifeste alatae, interdum cristatae.