Polystichum nephrolepioides Christ, Bull. Acad. Int. Géogr. Bot. 11: 258. 1902; Cyrtomium tengii Ching & K. H. Shing; C. wulingense S. F. Wu; Phanerophlebia nephrolepioides (Christ) Copeland.

Plants 12-28 cm tall. Rhizome erect, densely covered with lanceolate brown scales. Stipe stramineous or sometimes lower portion purple, 3-10 cm, 1-2 mm in diam. at base, densely scaly; scales brown, ovate or lanceolate, margins fimbriate. Lamina linear-lanceolate, 10-25 × 2-5 cm, base not contracted, 1-imparipinnate, apex acuminate; rachis densely scaly abaxially; scales brown, lanceolate, margins toothed. Lateral pinnae 10-26 pairs, crowded, alternate, spreading or slightly ascendant, shortly stalked, ovate or rarely deltoid-lanceolate; middle pinnae 1-2.5 × 0.6-1.2 cm, base cordate or sometimes obliquely cordate, margins entire and often slightly reflexed, apex rounded; terminal pinna ovate, sometimes with 1 or 2 basal lobes, (0.6-)1.5-2.5 × (0.3-)0.8-1 cm; texture thickly leathery, glabrous on both surfaces; venation pinnate, midrib concave on both surfaces, indistinct, lateral veins anastomosing to form 2 or 3 rows (stories) of areoles on each side of midrib, proximal row of areoles with 1 included veinlet. Sori 1 or 2 rows on each side of midrib; indusia margins irregularly toothed.

● Limestone crevices in forests or forest margins; 600-1600 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan (Sangzhi, Shimen), Sichuan (Emei Shan).