Nephrodium gymnosorum Makino, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 13: 64. 1899.

Rhizome ascending, densely covered with scales at apex; scales black, lanceolate, entire. Fronds caespitose. Stipes dark brown at base and stramineous upward, 20-30 cm, base black and covered with lanceolate, black scales, subglabrous upward. Lamina ovate-lanceolate, 30-40 × 20-30 cm, bipinnate. Pinnae 10-13 pairs, opposite or subopposite, broadly lanceolate, 10-15 × 3-5 cm, usually overlapping rachis at base, sessile. Pinnules ca. 10 pairs, oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 2-3 × ca. 1 cm, pinnatifid to pinnatipartite, obtuse and toothed at apex; lowest basiscopic pinnule on lowest pinna distinctly larger than next. Segments ascending, with toothed apex. Veins pinnate; veinlets simple, visible abaxially. Lamina herbaceous, light green, glabrous adaxially; rachis subglabrous; pinna rachis and costa sparsely covered with bullate scales. Sori exindusiate. n = 123.

Subtropical or temperate forests. Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan].