Adiantum cultratum Willdenow, Phytographia, 14. 1794; Lindsaea decomposita Willdenow; L. nitens Blume; L. nitida Copeland; L. recurvata Wallich ex Hooker; L. sarasinorum Christ; L. trapezoidea Copeland; Synaphlebium nitens (Blume) J. Smith; S. recurvatum (Wallich ex Hooker) J. Smith.

Rhizomes shortly creeping, sparsely scaly; scales appressed, reddish brown, narrowly triangular, ca. 8 cells wide at base, acicular at apex. Fronds approximate; stipe stramineous, 10-30 cm, quadrangular at least on upper part; lamina 10-30 × 2-4 cm, or much wider when lateral pinnae are present, herbaceous, 1- or 2-pinnate with 1 or 2 pairs of lateral pinnae, terminal pinnae similar to lateral pinnae; pinnae linear, lateral pinnae 0-2 pairs, not or slightly narrowed toward base, apex ± abruptly narrowed; pinnules 12-25 pairs, dimidiate, rhomboid, upper margin with 1-3 narrow incisions to 1 mm deep, upper margin or lobes apically straight or slightly convex; veins anastomosing, evident or not. Sori marginal or submarginal, terminal on 2-5 veins; indusia linear, interrupted. 2n = ca. 300.

Once-pinnate specimens of this species have often been confused with Osmolindsaea odorata, which explains the observations of solenostelic rhizomes in Lindsaea cultrata. Like other species of Lindsaea, L. cultrata has a protostele and lacks the strong fragrance of Osmolindsaea.

Terrestrial, forests; 200-600 m. Taiwan (Taidong) [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand; Pacific islands].