Caudex erect, to c. 30 cm tall except in C. inopinata; stipes dark throughout or paler distally, in a few cases bearing spreading septate hairs near base, always with rather broad scales which in most species lack acicular hairs. Lamina commonly 20-40 cm long, rarely to 80 cm, apex never pinna-like; lowest pinnae not or little reduced except in C. fasciculata and C. squamipes, narrowed towards their bases and often wider at their middle than other pinnae; basal acroscopic lobe often enlarged and dentate with some forked veins; aerophores at bases of pinnae somewhat swollen; pinnae always deeply lobed, one or more basal lobes sometimes free; veins in lobes simple or rarely once forked, both basal veins to edge above base of sinus; lower surface of rachis, costae, costules and veins always bearing some reduced scales (smallest filiform); spreading acicular hairs usually present on lower surface of axes of frond (sometimes replaced by short capitate hairs), in some cases longer hairs which may be septate; sessile resinous glands (which may collapse on drying) present on lower surfaces of many species, in some also on upper surface; costa always grooved on upper surface; hairs on upper surface of rachis and costae always acicular, normally unicellular, in a few species septate. Sori usually with rather large indusia which may be glandularor hairy, distal sori (rarely all) sometimes asymmetric as in Athyrium; sporangia short-stalked, never with glands or hairs on body, sometimes with a sessile gland on the stalk; spores usually pale, translucent, with a ± continuous wing and a few cross-wings, in at least one species with many small wings.
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