Purple-stem cliff-brake is a fern with fronds that are 63-125cm. Its leaves are slightly dimorphic, stiffly erect, most are 20-40cm. The petioles are shorter than the blades, purplish-brown, obviously hairy especially on the upper side. Pinnae are in 5-11 pairs, most sterile, basal pinnae are at least twice as long as the upper and with 3-15 segments, fertile pinnae are narrower than the sterile, linear-oblong, acute, and with an irregularly revolute margin opening and commonly leaving many sporangia exposed, eventually becoming flat. Its pale brown sori pale brown are without true indusia. Its rhizome scales are 3-6mm, matted, dull tawny or rusty, and the young tips tan and entangled.
