Pellaea pectiniformis Bak.

pectiniformis: combshaped, referring to the shape of the lamina which has close, narrow and parallel pinnae.

Rhizome creeping to semi-erect, up to 8 mm in diameter; rhizome scales dark brown, subentire, narrowly lanceolate, apex gradualy tapering to a point, up to 4 mm long. Fronds tufted, erect, coriaceous. Stipe dark brown to black, up to 30 cm long, with short, brown, hairlike scales mixed with sparse larger and broader scales, becoming subglabrous with age. Lamina narrowly oblong to lanceolate in outline, up to 13-30 cm × 4-9 cm, pinnate, up to 48 pairs of subopposite to alternate pinnae. Pinnae linear in outline, up to 18-60 mm × 1-2 mm, apex rounded, cordate base articulated to a very short petiole, glabrous above, sparsely hairy along the costae, veins hardly visible. Rhachis dark brown, thinly pilose. Sori marginal, continuous; indusium erose to entire, membranous, continuous.

South and tropical Africa, Madagascar and Comoro Islands.