Plants 10-30 cm tall. Rhizome long creeping, 1.2-3.7 mm in diam., in cross section sometimes with a single, central sclerenchyma strand; phyllopodia (0.5-)2-8 cm apart, lateral buds alternating with phyllopodia. Scales peltate, (2.2-)4-9.5 × 0.7-1.6 mm, base entire to irregularly dentate; acumen shiny, light brown, entire. Fronds dimorphic, stipitate. Sterile fronds: stipe 1-6 cm; lamina widest at middle, 13-24 × 1.6-3 cm, base cuneate, decurrent, apex long acuminate. Fertile fronds usually much longer and narrower. Hydathodes distinct, superficial, rarely distinctly sunken. Indument persistent, dimorphic, light to grayish brown, thin; hairs 0.3-0.5 mm in diam., with appressed, boat-shaped upper rays. Sori superficial, without central bundle of paraphyses. Sporangia with stalks 0.75-1 × as long as capsule.