Allantodia cavaleriana Christ, Bull. Acad. Int. Géogr. Bot. 16: 243. 1906; Diplaziopsis intermedia Ching; D. javanica (Blume) C. Christensen subsp. cavaleriana (Christ) Nakaike; D. javanica var. cavaleriana (Christ) Tagawa; Diplazium cavalerianum (Christ) M. Kato.

Rhizome erect, short, apex like base of stipe, with few brown lanceolate scales; fronds caespitose. Fertile fronds up to 1.2 cm; stipe stramineous or green-stramineous when dry, 25-45 cm, 2-3 mm in diam., upward glabrous; lamina broadly lanceolate, 35-70 × 15-20 cm at middle, base often slightly narrowed; lateral pinnae 4-15 pairs, alternate, sessile or shortly stalked, slightly ascending, oblong-lanceolate, apex acuminate; basal 1-3 pairs of pinnae often reduced, ovate or narrowly ovate; middle pinnae subcontiguous, 8-15 × 1.5-3 cm, base broadly cuneate or subtruncate, margin entire; apical pinnae larger than lateral pinnae, similar, base asymmetrical; veins anastomosing with 2 or 3 rows of oblique long hexagonal areoles. Lamina green or yellow-green when dry, pale on abaxial surface. Sori thick, linear, 5(-8) mm, often from near costa to near or below middle of pinna; indusia brown, sausagelike, opening acroscopically or ruptured on back side when mature, persistent. 2n = 164.

Broad-leaved forests in valleys; 1000-1800 m. Chongqing (Nanchuan, Qijiang), Fujian (Wuyi Shan), Guizhou (Chishui, Fanjing Shan, Huishui), Hubei (Xianfeng), Jiangxi (Jinggangshan), Sichuan (Daxiangling, Emei Shan), Yunnan, Zhejiang (Suichang) [Bhutan, NE India, Japan, Nepal, Vietnam].