L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2,1524.1763 Terrestrial, 10-100 cm tall; rhizome densely covered with reddish-brown fibrous scales, the lowest part of stipe with lanceolate-linear scales to ca 1 cm long, the scales basi fixed with a small auricle. Leaves 1-pinnate, slightly dimorphic; petiole and rachis glabrate or granular-scaly, also sometimes with a few larger lanceolate-linear scales, the petiole 1-35 cm long; leaflets sessile, stiff, confluent, very tapered at apex; sterile leaflets lanceolate-elliptic, acuminate, truncate to subcordate at base, to 7 cm long and 2 cm wide, crenulate to usually entire, not articulate; fertile leaflets similar except longer (to 15 cm long) and narrower (to 1.5 cm wide), curved upward and often very weakly auriculate on lower edge near rachis. Sori continuous along either side of the midrib, usually from or near base to near apex, sometimes along the rachis as well and rarely +/- perpendicular to the midrib on the auricle; indusium thin, brown, directed toward the midrib. Croat 6981. Locally abundant on steep exposed banks in the Laboratory Clearing and on eroded shores on the north and east sides of the island.