Rhizome widely creeping, 1-2 mm in diameter; rhizome scales dark brown, lanceolate in outline, up to 5 mm long, margins subentire to bluntly and widely toothed. Fronds spaced apart (4-8 mm), dimorphic. Sterile fronds: stipe 1-10 cm long, densely set with pale brown, lanceolate scales; lamina 15-60 x 7-12 mm, elliptic to slightly oblong or narrowly ovate in outline, simple, upper surface variously set with pale brown, peltate, lanceolate to ovate scales, undersurface somewhat glandular, with scales similar to those on the upper surface along the midrib only, margin entire. Fertile fronds: stipe usually longer than the sterile stipe; lamina 17-32 x 7-10 mm, oblong-elliptic to narrowly ovate in outline, upper surface covered with scales. Sporangia completely covering the undersurface of the lamina, except the midrib.

drakensbergense: this species is an endemic of the Drakensberg Mountains.

Found in basalt clifs and rock screes at high altitudes along the upper eastern slopes of the Drakensberg range.

See African distribution.

Lesotho, South Africa.

Lithophytic.