Adiantum heterophyllum (Dryander) Poiret; Lindsaea variabilis Hooker & Arnott; Schizoloma heterophyllum (Dryander) J. Smith.

Rhizomes shortly creeping, densely scaly; scales appressed or spreading, brown to castaneous, 2-6 cells wide at base, acicular at apex. Fronds approximate; stipe castaneous, 15-25 cm, subterete at base and quadrangular upward; lamina lanceolate to ovate-triangular, 15-30 × 6-20 cm, herbaceous, 1-pinnate or sometimes 2-pinnate at base, upper pinnae gradually becoming smaller toward apex, without terminal pinnae; pinnae 10-25 pairs, subopposite at base, alternate apically, morphologically variable, ovate, rhomboid, flabellate, or deltoid-lanceolate, usually sessile, broadly cuneate at base, margin subentire or erose, apex obtuse or acuminate; veins irregularly anastomosing or most often free on upper pinnae, one irregular areole present on either side of costa, other veins free, visible on both surfaces. Sori marginal, terminal on veins; indusia linear, continuous or rarely interrupted. 2n = ca. 130*, ca. 216, ca. 220.

Terrestrial, roadsides, on rocks along stream banks or in forests; 300-900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa].