Rhizome creeping, 3–8 mm diameter; rhizome scales dense, dark brown, appressed, shiny, narrowly triangular in outline, apex gradually tapering to a point, to 4 x 0.4–0.9 mm, margin narrow and paler. Fronds well-spaced, herbaceous to subcoriaceous. Stipe erect, dark brown to black, 20–58 cm long, sulcate in upper part, when young covered with scales as on rhizome, but soon glabrescent. Lamina dull or dark green, ovate-lanceolate in outline, 23–45 x 10–23 cm, 3-pinnatifid to 3-pinnatisect, lowermost pinnae pendent and hardly reduced, upper pinnae gradually decrescent. Pinnae 12–20 pairs, stalked, alternate, to 11 x 6 cm, base unequal, apex gradually tapering to a point. Pinnules in 5–8 pairs, asymmetrically lanceolate, to 3 x 1 cm, most pinnules pinnatisect; with ultimate segments to 2 mm wide, uppermost pinnules with toothed margin; with scattered pale brown scales to 1.5 mm. Rhachis and costa with scattered pale brown scales to 3 mm. Sori several per pinnule, 1–2 per lobe, linear, 3–5.5 mm long; indusium membranous, entire, to 0.3 mm wide.

Upper moist forest zone, bamboo zone, Hagenia zone and heath zone, on logs, moss tufts, steep banks.

See African distribution.

Kenya, Tanzania , Uganda.

Epiphytic, terrestrial.