Plants 57-80 cm tall. Rhizomes short and decumbent or ascending. Fronds approximate; stipes 27-40 cm, bases nearly black, with sparse lanceolate scales, distally castaneous-brown or reddish brown, glabrous, polished; laminae lanceolate, 30-40 × 8-12 cm, not tapering to bases, pinnate-pinnatifid, apices acuminate and pinnatifid; pinnae ca. 18 pairs, opposite or alternate distally, obliquely spreading, sessile, proximal pair not shortened; middle ones narrowly lanceolate, 5-7 × 0.8-1.2 cm, bases truncate, symmetrical, pinnatifid and reaching both narrow wings on costae, apices acuminate; segments 18-24 pairs, spreading, oblong or triangular-oblong, 3-5 × 2-3 mm, entire along margins, obtuse at apices. Veins evident, lateral veins simple, 4 or 5(or 6) pairs per segment, proximal pair arising from slightly above base of costules. Laminae herbaceous, brownish green when dry, usually glabrous except for reddish orange spherical glands; adaxially pubescent along costae. Sori orbicular, dorsifixed at middle of lateral veins, ca. 3 pairs per segment; indusia large, orbicular-reniform, brown, membranous, nearly touching one another, usually glabrous, persistent.

● Valley forests, thickets; 700-2100 m. S Anhui, N Fujian, Guangdong, S Guangxi, Guizhou, W Hunan, Jiangxi, S Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.