Davallia pectinata Smith, Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci. (Turin) 5: 415. 1793; Davallia gaimardiana (Gaudichaud) C. Presl; D. parallela Wallich ex Hooker; Humata gaimardiana (Gaudichaud) J. Smith; H. parallela (Wallich ex Hooker) Brackenridge; Nephrodium gaimardianum Gaudichaud; Pachypleuria pectinata (Smith) C. Presl.

Rhizome 1.4-2.6 mm in diam. (without scales), white waxy under scales. Scales red-brown, with pale border from base to apex, narrowed evenly toward apex, not or seldom curling backward, peltate, ca. 5 × 1.1-1.5 mm, with multiseptate hairs at least when young. Stipe pale or dark brown, adaxially grooved, 5-18 cm, glabrous or with few scales; lamina simple, with pectinate or pinnatifid margin, narrowly ovate, elongate, often narrowing toward base, 4-21 × 2.5-8 cm, with multicellular hairs or glabrous, not or slightly dimorphic. Longest pinnae 1.5-3.2 × 0.3-0.5 cm. False veins not present. Sori separate, at forking point of veins or at bending point of a vein; indusium attached at broad base and hardly or not at sides, semicircular, wider than long or ± as wide as long, 0.6-0.8 × 0.6-1 mm, upper margin not elongated, truncate or slightly rounded, separated from or even with lamina margin.

Wet forests, epiphytic, epilithic, or sometimes terrestrial, on sand, old lava flows, or limestone; 300-400 m. Taiwan (Lan Yu) [Cambodia, India (S Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands), Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand; Australia, Pacific islands].