Rhizome incomplete, appears erect or slightly creeping; rhizome scales narrowly triangular, margins with long loose lobes, apex long tapering , ending in short gland hair, very variable in size, up to 6 mm long, texture homogeneous, without ribs, thin, corrugated, opaque chestnut, cells irregularly sinusoid-rectangular, with thin walls. Fronds monomorphic, tufted, stout, erect, rigid, up to 85 cm long, firm membracious. Stipe above trisulcate, below flat on one side, strong, (23) 28-35 x 0.3 cm, chestnut, scales scattered, similar to rhizome scales but smaller. Lamina bipinnate-pinnatifid, oblong-lanceolate in outline, ca. 27-jugate, (36)42-53 x (9)12-13 cm, olive green above, green below; pinnae pinnate-pinnatifid, ca. 8-jugate, up to 9-10 x 3 cm, narrow ovate in outline, base unequal, basiscopic side widely arched-cut of, acroscopic side cuneate, apex long attenuate-caudate, petiolate, petiole 5 mm long, erect spreading, base remote or, except at the margin, touching each other, glabrous above, below in petiole and costa sparsely set with scales similar of the rhachis; pinnules pinnatifid, oblanceolate or obovate-rhombic in outline, to 25 x 9 mm, erect spreading, unequal, acroscopic side bigger, base cuneate, lowest petiolulate, upward bi- or tri-fid, with sharp lobes; rhachis above grooved, below flat on one side, firm, chestnut, scales scattered, similar to rhizome scales but smaller; costa ribbed above, with marginal wings, flat below; costules above the base winged, then as prominent veins, inconspicuous below. Sori sori indusiate elongate, in ca. five pinnules arranged, apical part not reaching the tip of the lace; indusium to 10 x 0.5 mm, linear, base and apex rounded, margin slightly undulate, persistent, dark honey coloured.
Translated from Latin, needs to be checked with specimens.

Differs from A. aethiopicum by longer, straight, rigid and more deeply cut fronds, by thin, narrow triangular rhizome scales that have a few long laciniae at the margin, ending in a short glandular hair and with rather large cells with thin walls and large lumen.

reekmansii: named in honour of Dr. M. Reekmans, botanical collector.

Degraded forest, humid rocks.

See African distribution.

Burundi.

Terrestrial.