Plants generally terrestrial. Stems erect to obliquely ascending, stolons absent. Leaves monomorphic, evergreen or dying back in winter. Petiole 2/3 to equaling length of blade, base not swollen; vascular bundles more than 3, arranged in an arc, ± round in cross section. Blade lanceolate to deltate, 1--4-pinnate-pinnatifid, gradually reduced distally to confluent, pinnatifid apex, herbaceous. Pinnae not articulate to rachis, segment margins nearly entire to crenulate, ciliate; proximal pinnae not reduced, sometimes basal pair much the longest, sessile to petiolulate, equilateral or inequilateral with basiscopic side more developed (pinnules noticeably longer); costae adaxially rounded or flat, not grooved; indument of linear to lanceolate scales and often multicellular glandular hairs abaxially, of multicellular reddish hairs adaxially. Veins free, simple or forked. Sori in 1 row between midrib and margin, round; indusia round-reniform, attached at narrow sinus, sometimes small or seemingly absent, persistent or caducous. Spores brownish, usually spiny, sometimes prominently cristate, rarely finely reticulate. x = 41.