Habit: Pteris longifolia grows from a short creeping rhizome that is covered with yellowish brown linear to triangular scales. The fronds, emerging forming a rosette, to 1 m. in length (usually shorter), to 20 cm wide, oblong to lanceolate, once pinnately compound. Linear pinnae are to 1 cm wide, arranged alternately with a reflexed margin on a short petiolule. The rachis has scattered yellowish white scales.
The abaxial sori are marginal on the pinnae margin and there is an elongate indusium formed from the reflexed pinnae margin.
Habitat: Pteris longifolia grows on the walls of sink holes, rocky walls, and crevices.
Distribution: Pteris longifolia occurs in the central and northern island groupings of the Lucayan Archipelago and Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean region and Central and South America.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Pteris longifolia is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.