Grows in full sun or light shade in fairly moist areas or between rocks. Forms large tufts. Plants at high altitudes slightly smaller. Fairly common but easily overlooked. Stipe ( leaf stalk ) is glabrous - thin and green. Pinnae ( leaflets ) are brown - 5 to 6 mm long. The fertile fronds have a crowded group of comb-like fertile pinnae at apex. The sporangia are in two rows on either side of the rib. pectinata = comb-like.