Lindsaea annamensis K. U. Kramer; L. conformis Ching; L. fengkaiensis B. S. Wang & S. H. Shi; L. orbiculata (Lamarck) Mettenius ex Kuhn var. recedens (Ching) W. C. Shieh; L. recedens Ching.

Rhizomes shortly creeping, sparsely scaly; scales appressed, reddish brown, 2-4 cells wide at base, acicular at apex. Fronds approximate; stipe castaneous or at least castaneous at base and brown to stramineous apically, 15-26 cm, quadrangular or subterete at base; lamina ovate or deltoid-ovate, 10-18 × 5-12 cm, herbaceous to papery, 2-pinnate or rarely 3-pinnate at base, base rounded or broadly cuneate, upper pinnae gradually reduced or sometimes upper part abruptly narrowed to a caudate apex; 1-pinnate pinnae 4-6 pairs, linear or lanceolate, sessile or basal pinnae shortly stalked, pinnules anadromous, base cuneate, upper pinnules gradually reduced toward apex; pinnules 6-13 pairs, dimidiate, rhomboid or cuneate, lobed on upper margin or rarely entire when pinnules small and cuneate, incisions reaching to 1/3 pinnule width, outer margin straight or nearly so; veins free, visible. Sori submarginal, terminal on 2-4 veins; indusia linear or oblong, interrupted. 2n = 188*.

Lindsaea chienii is morphologically variable. Two cytotypes, diploid and tetraploid, have been reported. Further intraspecific study is needed.

Terrestrial, forests; 100-1300 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou (Chishui), Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Thailand, Vietnam].