Aspidium nepalense Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 4: 97. 1827; Polystichum atroviridissimum Hayata.

Plants evergreen. Rhizome erect, densely covered with linear-lanceolate brown scales. Fronds 30-90 cm; stipe stramineous, 16-46 cm, 2-4 mm in diam. at base, sparsely covered with linear and ovate brown scales. Lamina 1-pinnate, lanceolate or broadly lanceolate, 30-52 × 4.5-12 cm, slightly contracted at base, acuminate; rachis without proliferous bulbils, both surfaces sparsely covered with ovate scales. Pinnae 22-30 pairs, alternate, slightly ascendant, shortly stalked, falcate-lanceolate, middle pairs 2.5-7 × 0.8-1.8 cm, bases oblique, apices acuminate; acroscopic margins truncate, auricles deltoid, basiscopic margins cuneate, margins cartilaginous and with small acute teeth or biserrate; abaxially with numerous brown microscales; microscales nearly rounded at base, caudate at apex; frond texture leathery; venation pinnate, midribs flat abaxially, concave adaxially, lateral veins dichotomous, visible on both surfaces. Sori in 1 row on each side of midrib; indusia entire.

The distribution record for Vietnam is new.

Polystichum nepalense has been placed in P. sect. Polystichum by Fraser-Jenkins (Himalayan Ferns (Guide to Polystichum), 7. 1997).

Forests; 1500-3000 m. Guangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, C and W Yunnan [Bhutan, India, N Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam].