This species belongs to a small clade within E. section Lepidoglossa, namely the “Elaphoglossum ciliatum group”, which was recently monographed by Vasco et al. (2009). The group is characterized by laminar scales reduced to minute dots, resinous rhizomes, and spiny perispores. A reddish-brown, resinous substance of yet undetermined nature is produced by different parts of the plant. This chemical compound usually stains the paper in which the specimens were pressed in the field, often helping us to distinguish species of this clade.