Fronds spaced along rhizome, erect, with spreading fan-shaped lamina, up to 4 tiers (first and second branches very short), first branches generally without pinnae; angles between branches small, less than 45° in first fork. Stipe 40–75 cm long, brown, smooth, shiny. Pinnules angled at 45–50° to axis, oblong-linear, 30–55 mm long, upper surface dark green and shiny, lower surface lighter green, glabrous or sometimes with a few hair-like scales; margins serrate; apex slightly pointed. Sori with 3–6 yellow sporangia.
EGL, EGU, HSF. Restricted in Victoria to the far east (e.g. Tamboon Inlet, Mt Drummer, Howe Range areas), where sometimes forming extensive colonies along cool, shaded stream margins.
Apart from the characteristic serration and angle of insertion of the pinnules, the first branches are distinctive in making an angle of less than 45° with one another and in their absence of pinnules.
