Rhizome erect or short-ascending, to 9 mm diameter; rhizome scales dark brown, to 6 x 2.5 mm, base cordate, ovate-oblong or elongate-deltoid in outline, apex acute to long-acuminate, margin pale brown, entire or rarely fimbriate, transparent. Fronds tufted or occasionally shortly spaced, often with subterminal gemmae. Stipe dark green above, black beneath, 11–23 cm long, with scales similar to rhizome scales (but smaller) dense near base and sparse elsewhere. Lamina dark green, ovate-lanceolate in outline, (20–)30–50 x 8–20 cm, 3-pinnatisect (to slightly 4-pinnatisect), apex gradually tapering to a point. Pinnae shortly stalked, in 13–23 pairs, the basal ones hardly smaller and (sub)opposite, the upper ones alternate, elongate-deltoid in outline, to 8 x 4(–10x5, fide protologue) cm, 2-pinnatisect, acroscopic base truncate, basiscopic base cuneate; pinnules in 6–12 pairs; the ultimate segments falcate-oblong and to 8 x 1.5 mm; scales sparse, as on rhachis. Rhachis narrowly winged, glabrous or with sparse dark brown scales to 2 mm, the margins with hair-lobes. Sori 1(–2) per segment, on the vein, 1.5–4 mm long; indusium membranous, entire, 0.4–0.5 mm wide.

bugoiense: type specimen from Bugoier forest, Rwanda.

Moist forest, bamboo forest, nearly always in damp sites such as stream-banks, often associated with Cyathea.

See African distribution.

Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania , Uganda.

Epiphytic, lithophytic, terrestrial.