Rhizome compact, ± 3 mm diameter; rhizome scales linear-lanceolate in outline, castaneous, shiny, ± 5 mm long, margin cilio-denticulate, cilia seem weak and often not rigid; phyllopodia to 1 cm, castaneous. Fronds dimorphous, clumped, pendulous, thin. Sterile fronds 30–58 cm long; stipe 1/4–1/3 the sterile frond length, orange-tan, 1.2–1.5 mm diameter, scales abundant, linear-lanceolate in outline, 4–8.5 x ± 1 mm, orange-tan with castaneous teeth; lamina narrowly elliptic in outline, (18–)30–65 x 2.5–5 cme, apex pointed, base wedge-shaped; veins 1.5–2 mm apart, at 75–80° angle to costa, simple to once-branched; hydathodes absent; costal scales 5–6 mm long; both surfaces with orange-tan, linear-lanceolate, toothed scales. Fertile fronds: shorter than the sterile fronds; stipe 1/3–1/2 the fertile frond; lamina linear-elliptic in outline, 14–16 x 0.8–1.1 cm, apex rounded, base rounded; intersporangial scales absent.

Only in Flora Tropical East Africa as accepted taxa, otherwise unresolved. Distinguished from E. deckenii by stipe scales of sterile fronds and rhizome scales; characters of frond size and scale coloration seem to be quite variable and do not distinguish E. tanganjicense from E. deckenii.

tanganjicense: from Tanganyika, present day Tanzania, where the type specimen was found.

Moist montane forest.

Africa, comoro Isl.

Dem. Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania .

Epiphytic, terrestrial.