Aspidium subexaltatum Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 4: 616. 1904; Dryopteris hayatae Tagawa.

Plants 30-40 cm tall. Rhizome erect, short, densely scaly; scales castaneous, broadly lanceolate, entire. Fronds caespitose; stipe stramineous, longer than lamina, 20-25 cm, base sparsely scaly; scales brown, lanceolate, entire, apex acicular; lamina ovate-oblong or deltoid-ovate, 15-25 × 10-15 cm, bipinnatipartite to tripinnatilobate, base not narrowed, apex acuminate; pinnae 7-9 pairs, opposite or subopposite, slightly obliquely ascending, shortly stalked, basal pair largest, deltoid-lanceolate, slightly falcate, 5-8 × 3-5 cm, apex shortly acuminate, remaining pinnae lanceolate; pinnules 7-9 pairs, alternate, oblong-lanceolate, base broadly cuneate, usually asymmetrical, basiscopic pinnule of basal pair longer than others, 3-4 × 1-2 cm, widest at base; segments oblong, apex obtuse and with several acute teeth. Lamina subpapery, both surfaces glabrous; veins pinnate, forked, obscure adaxially, conspicuous abaxially. Sori on middle of veinlets; indusia orbicular-reniform, often irregularly incised at maturity.

Subtropical broad-leaved forests, often on steep slopes; near sea level to 1100 m. Taiwan [Japan].