Rhizome slender, creeping, c. 2 mm in diameter; rhizome scales lanceolate in outline, apex with hairtip, base cordate, margin sparsely toothed, up to 4 mm long, pale reddish brown, concolorous. Fronds monomorphic, closely spaced, erect, coriaceous. Stipe 4-9 cm, pinkish red when young, becoming dark brown with age, glabrous but with a few scales at the base. Lamina 2-(3-) pinnate, narrowly oblong-elliptic to lanceolate in outline, 9-25 x 1.5-6 cm; pinnae spread at almost 90° to the rhachis, up to 3 cm long; pinnules broadly oblong-ovoid, apex blunt, base broadly cuneate to truncate, margin entire, shortly petiolate, articulated, 0.3-1 x 0.2-0.6 mm, hairless, dark purplish green above, paler below; venation free, obscure; rhachis and secondary rhachises dark brown, with few pale hairs when young, hairless at maturity. Sori marginal, linear, continuous; indusium continuous along the lateral margin, subentire.

rufa: reddish; referring to the red stipe and rhachis or to the rust-coloured rhizome scales.

Under arid karoid shrub or dry fynbos, on ledges, in rock crevices, at base of boulders; to survive in the extreme climate this fern sheds its pinnules in the dry season.

See African distribution.

South Africa.

Lithophytic, terrestrial.