Lastrea pilosissima J.Sm. ex T.Moore
Ctenitis pilosissima (J.Sm. ex T.Moore) Alston
Ctenitis variabilis (Hook.) Tardieu
Nephrodium variabile Hook.
Dryopteris variabilis (Hook.) Alston

Rhizome creeping; rhizome scales deciduous, brown. Fronds monomorphic, closely spaced, membraneous. Stipe 20-30 cm long, dark brown, densely covered with a short, red tomentum, mixed with a few rare, narrow, brown scales. Lamina 3-pinnate at the base, deltoid in outline, 20-40 x 20-40 cm, dark green when dry; pinnae 8-10 pairs, petiolate, gradually decreasing ; basal pinnae opposite, basiscopicly developed, apical pinnae subalternate, making an angle of about 80° with the rhachis ; pinnules 4-6 cm long, oblong in outline, apex rounded; ultimate segments cuneate, apex rounded, first pair more developed; veins forked; rhachis undersurface with short hairs as on stipe; costa on upper surface with few hairs. Sori rounded, on the end of the veins; usually with indusium.

Wet and shaded environment.

Africa, Gulf of Guinea Island.

Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone.

Terrestrial.