Large attractive fern with an erect rhizome, sometimes forming a stem mearly 1m tall. Pinnate fronds are firm and leathery in texture and can reach up to 1.4m in length and are arranged in whorls; young fronds are covered with long brown hairs and narrow scales. Leaf stalk (stipe) is up to 30cm long and is glabrous. Pinnae are linear to oblong, upper surface glabrous, under surface sub-glabrous with pale-brown hair-like scales along leaf margin, leaf margin is entire or sometimes shallowly revolute; pinnae bases are sessile and adnate (pinnae base is joined to rachis). Sori linear extending the length of pinnae; indusium linear, continuous.

Can be confused with other Blechnum species although its stiff habit and leathery texture are distinctive, furthermore the bases of the pinnae are unequally shaped.

Latin: tabulare  = a direct reference to Table Mountain in Cape Town, the site where the fern was first discovered in 1772.