Niphobolus fissus Blume var. stenophyllus Beddome, Suppl. Ferns Brit. Ind. 92. 1892; Cyclophorus stenophyllus (Beddome) C. Christensen; Niphobolus stenophyllus (Beddome) Giesenhagen; Pyrrosia linearis Ching & S. K. Wu; P. porosa (C. Presl) Hovenkamp var. stenophylla (Beddome) Hovenkamp; P. tibetica Ching; P. tibetica var. angustata Ching.

Plants 20-30 cm tall. Rhizome shortly elongated, 1.6-3.1 mm in diam., in cross section with few to many sclerenchyma strands; phyllopodia 0.3-0.7 cm apart, lateral buds alternating with phyllopodia. Scales peltate, 3.5-6.8 × 0.7-1.2 mm, base entire to dentate, acumen light brown, dentate; short, ± orbicular to ovate scales occasionally present. Fronds monomorphic, not or indistinctly to 1-3 cm stipitate; lamina widest above middle, (5-)20-40 × 0.5-1.5 cm, base gradually narrowed, apex acute to acuminate. Hydathodes distinct, superficial. Indument persistent, dimorphic, thin, brown or lower layer whitish; hairs 0.2-1.6 mm in diam., with erect-spreading to appressed, acicular rays, usually ± mixed with hairs with mainly woolly rays. Sori superficial, without central bundle of paraphyses. Sporangia sessile or with stalks up to 0.33 × as long as capsule.

On tree trunks or rocks in forests; 1200-1800 m. Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal].