Acrostichum heteroclitum C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 15. 1825; Bolbitis annamensis Tardieu & C. Christensen; Leptochilus heteroclitus (C. Presl) C. Christensen.

Rhizome robust and long creeping, 3-6 mm in diam., densely scaly; scales brownish or blackish, ovate-lanceolate, 3-9 × 0.5-1.5 cm, usually subclathrate, margin subentire. Fronds 1-3 cm apart; sterile fronds simple or pinnate, 15-80 cm; stipe 10-30(-40) cm, sparsely scaly, grooved adaxially; lamina blackish when dry, 10-60 × 5-25 cm, thinly herbaceous, apex elongate to long flagelliform, terminal part with bulbil; rachis not winged, with sparse nut-brown scales; pinnae 1-6 pairs, alternate to opposite, subsessile, broadly lanceolate, 10-19 × 3-6 cm, base rounded-cuneate, margin subentire or crenate-serrate, apex caudate-acuminate; secondary veins prominent on both surfaces; veins forming 3 rows of regularly tetragonal to hexagonal areoles, without included free veinlets. Fertile fronds 15-70 cm; stipe 10-45 cm; lamina 10-26 × 5-20 cm. Sporangia inserted throughout abaxial surface. 2n = 82.

Bolbitis heteroclita is often grown as a submerged aquarium plant.

On rocks or at base of trees near streams in broad-leaved forests; sea level to 1500 m. Chongqing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan (including Ryukyu Islands), Malesia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].