Pteris incisa Thunberg, Prodr. Pl. Cap. 171. 1800; Histiopteris aurita (Blume) J. Smith; Litobrochia aurita (Blume) J. Smith; L. incisa (Thunberg) C. Presl; Pellaea fauriei Christ; Pteris aurita Blume.

Plants ca. 2 m tall. Rhizome long creeping, robust, to 5 mm in diam., densely scaly; scales castaneous-brown, shiny, lanceolate, thick, often twisted at apex; stipe reddish castaneous, shiny, ca. 1 m × up to 5 mm, terete, basally tuberculate and ± rough, apically glabrous; lamina cinereous-green or light cinereous, adaxially brown-green, 2- or 3-pinnate, triangular or oblong-triangular, 50-100 cm, herbaceous or papery when dried, glabrous; pinnae opposite, spreading or oblique, or distally acroscopically falcate, sessile, lowest pinnules much smaller than next pair, seated like stipules at very base of pinnae; basal pinnae narrowly triangular, often 25-45 × 13-30 cm, basally truncate, 1-pinnate or 2-pinnatipartite, apically acute; pinnules many, opposite, spreading, sessile, basal 1-3 pairs larger, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 10-15 × 3-4 cm, basally rounded-truncate to broadly cuneate, 1-pinnate or pinnatifid at costule, apically long caudate (2.5-4 cm); segments 6-9 pairs, opposite, spreading or slightly decumbent, second pair often larger, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 1.5-4 cm × 5-8 mm, segment base usually connate with costule, incision equal to segment width, or slightly wider, entire or pinnatifid up to 1/2, margin undulate, or undulate rounded-serrate, apex obtuse or shortly acuminate; veins reticulate, with regular rows of costal and costular areoles, remaining areoles smaller, conspicuous on both surfaces; rachises and costules shiny, glabrous, slightly grooved adaxially, often changing from reddish brown to brown-straw-colored to straw-colored.

Forests; 500-2300 m. ?Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan (Baisha, Diaoluo Shan), Hunan (Tongdao, Yizhang), Jiangxi (Jinggangshan), Taiwan, Xizang (Mêdog, Zayü), Yunnan, ?Zhejiang [Bhutan, NE India, S Japan; pantropical areas, islands near Antarctica, Madagascar].