Polypodium aculeatum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1090. 1753; Aspidium aculeatum (Linnaeus) Swartz; A. lobatum (Hudson) Swartz; P. lobatum Hudson; Polystichum lobatum (Hudson) C. Presl.

Plants evergreen. Rhizome erect, densely covered with broadly lanceolate brown scales. Fronds ca. 60 cm; stipe amber, ca. 12 cm, ca. 5 mm in diam. at base, densely scaly; scales brown, ovate and lanceolate. Lamina bipinnate, broadly oblanceolate, ca. 60 × 12 cm, slightly contracted toward base, acuminate; rachis without proliferous bulbils, scaly on both surfaces, scales lanceolate and linear, margins ciliate. Pinnae ca. 38 pairs, alternate, slightly ascendant, linear-lanceolate, middle pairs 6-7 × ca. 1.5 cm, obliquely broadly cuneate or nearly rounded, shortly stalked, pinnate, acuminate. Pinnules 8-12 pairs, alternate, slightly ascendant, approximate, obliquely oblong, acroscopic bases indistinctly auriculate, obliquely cuneate, margins with small spinulose forward-pointing teeth, apices acute and spinulose; basal acroscopic pinnules largest, 1-1.5 cm × 4-6 mm; abaxially scaly; microscales filiform, strongly ciliate at base; frond texture leathery; venation pinnate on pinnules, indistinct. Sori in 1 row on each side of midrib; indusia present, entire or incised.

Picea forests; ca. 1900 m. Xinjiang (Yili) [W Asia, Europe].