Rhizome long-creeping; scales ovate, c. 2 mm long, dark brown to black with paler borders.  Fronds erect, 20–50 cm long, markedly but inconsistently dimorphic; sterile fronds usually much shorter. Stipe 10–23 cm long, densely clustered c. 5–10 mm apart, stiff, persistent, dark brown; stipe and rachis with dense covering of appressed brown scales and hairs. Lamina 1-pinnate, oblong, with 15–40 pinnae, coriaceous, with scattered scales on both surfaces, dark green above, paler beneath. Pinnae shortly stalked (stalks of basal pinnae > 1.5 mm long); fertile pinnae ±triangular, rarely falcate, 14–34 mm long, 7–12(–14) mm wide; apex acute or obtuse; base truncate to cordate; margins entire, often undulate; veins obscure except mid-vein. Sterile pinnae ±round or oblong, 12–22 mm long, 10–18 mm wide; apex obtuse to emarginate; base truncate.  Sori in continuous band 1–2 mm wide along margins, reaching to apex and base; reflexed margin covering young sori.