This member of the Marattiaceae family was given this name by George Franz Hoffmannin 1794. It is found in Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Island., Cook Island, Fiji, Marianas, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niue, Samoa, Society Island, Tonga, Tubuai Island, Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Island and North-Western Australia. It is growing in a rich organic soil with lots water and little to some sun. The caudex can grow to 100 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to eight metres in height.
The genera name from "anggerion"; 'vessel' and "ptere"; 'fern', referring to the thick-walled capsular-like sporangia. The species name means 'extended', and it sure have long leaves.