Rhizome long creeping, slender, up to 1.2 mm in diam., densely scaly throughout; scales peltate, linear-triangular, up to 8.8 × 0.5-0.8 mm, base irregularly lobed to rounded, margin minutely dentate, reddish brown or pale brown with dark central portion. Stipe short with lamina decurrent nearly to base; laminae linear, 3-9 cm × 1.5-3.5 mm, thickly leathery, margins involute, apex obtuse or acute; both surfaces stellate hairy, hairs rather caducous adaxially; veins invisible, venation reticulate, with 1 or 2 rows of areoles on each side of costa, often including free veinlets in each areole. Sori on free veinlets outside areoles, usually confluent at maturity, often covered by revolute lamina margin. Spores yellowish brown, perispore slightly wrinkled, with half-spherical globules.