Nephrodium sheareri Baker, J. Bot. 13: 200. 1875; Aspidium otarioides Christ; Athyrium sheareri (Baker) Ching; Dryopteris otarioides (Christ) C. Christensen; D. polypodiforme (Makino) C. Christensen; D. sheareri (Baker) C. Christensen; D. subsagenioides Christ; N. isolatum Baker; N. polypodiforme Makino.

Rhizomes long creeping, with sparse brownish lanceolate scales. Fronds approximate or distant; fronds 25-60 cm; stipe upward stramineous (occasionally pale red-purple), 15-30 cm, base ca. 2 mm in diam., sparsely scaly, upper part glabrate; lamina pinnate, ovate-oblong or ovate-triangular, 15-30 × 12-18 cm at middle, papery when dried, base subtruncate or rounded-cuneate, apex acuminate and pinnatifid; lateral pinnae 2-7 pairs, falcate, lanceolate, 6-10 × 1.5-2 cm, base rounded, often cuneate on acroscopic side in basal 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae, pinnatilobate to pinnatisect, apex long acuminate; segments broadly orbicular or oblong, margin long toothed and cartilaginous. Veins free, pinnate, lateral veins 3 or 4 pairs, simple or occasionally forked, ending in teeth, basal pair of veins reaching lobe sinuses. Lamina glabrate adaxially, costae and costules abaxially with brownish small scales and pallid short hairs. Sori 3 or 4 pairs per segment, orbicular; indusia brown, orbicular-reniform, membranous, ciliate at margin, fugacious. Spore surface with lophate ridges. 2n = 160, 120 (3× apomictic).

Valley forests, streamsides, shaded mountain slopes; sea level to 1900 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan (Hualian), Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, S Korea].