Rhizomes short, erect, apex densely clothed with dark brown, linear-lanceolate, fibriform-tipped scales. Fronds caespitose; fertile frond 30-40 cm; stipe blackish brown, upward stramineous, 15-25 cm, 2-2.5 mm in diam., base densely scaly, upward glabrate; lamina 2-pinnate, deltoid-ovate, 20-25 × 16-20 cm at base, apex abruptly narrowed; pinnae 6 or 7 pairs, alternate, approximate, ascending, with stalk up to 5 mm, basal pinnae not shortened, prominently narrowed toward base, lower pinnae broadly lanceolate, 8-12 × 2.5-3.5 cm at middle, base truncate, equilateral, pinnate, apex long acuminate; pinnules ca. 12 pairs, alternate, subspreading, shortly stalked or sessile, lower pinnules oblong-triangular or ovate, (1-)1.5-2.2 cm × (5-)8-10 mm at middle, apex obtuse-rounded to obtuse, base truncate and auriculate on acroscopic side, auricles overlaying or parallel to costa, rounded at apex, cuneate on basiscopic side, apex small-toothed; veins slightly visible adaxially, visible abaxially, lateral veins ca. 7 pairs, oblique, pinnate in segments. Lamina herbaceous when dried, pale green, glabrate; rachis and costae stramineous, sometimes pale purplish red, glabrate abaxially, with subulate spines on adaxial side at base of costa or costule. Sori oblong or shortly linear, 5 pairs per pinnule, biseriate on both sides of costule, subcostular, occasionally 1 or 2 in auriculate lobes; indusia brownish, oblong or shortly linear, sometimes reniform at base of pinnule, membranous, entire, persistent. Perispore surface without folds. 2n = 160.

Valley forests, partly shaded areas near ridges, wet areas; 500-2500 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, C and S Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].