Alsophila lepifera J. Smith ex Hooker, Sp. Fil. 1: 54. 1844; Cyathea lepifera (J. Smith ex Hooker) Copeland.

Trunk erect, often more than 6 m tall, up to 20 cm in diam. near base, with distinct leaf scars on surface; scales on trunks and at stipe base pale brown to nearly white, thin, up to 4 cm, 2-4 mm wide at base, fimbriate at margin, without distinct prickles but granular from deciduous scales. Fronds pale green to green, large, up to 2.5 cm; stipe purple at base, green above, up to 16 cm or more, swollen at base, up to 7 cm in diam., smooth or with warts and scattered scales, densely scaly, with abscission marks on trunks; lamina 2-pinnate to almost 3-pinnate, oblong-obovate, 2-4(-5?) m; larger pinnae up to 80 cm, basal ones smaller; larger pinnules 10-15 × 1.5-2.3 cm, caudate at apex; scales on abaxial side of axes dense, whitish, ovate to oblong-ovate, mixed with spreading hairs; ultimate segments thick, entire or nearly so, glaucous on abaxial surface. Sori subcostal on pinnules, without indusia; paraphyses pale, longer than sporangia, sometimes narrow and scalelike.

On slopes in valleys, mountain forests, forest margins, sunny grasslands, often on wet soils; below 1500 m. Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan; introduced into botanical gardens in S China [Japan (Ryukyu Islands), New Guinea, Philippines].