Perennial. Rhizome creeping, densely covered with narrow, dark scales attached by margin. Fronds tufted, moderately rigid. Stipe wiry, brown to black, usually glossy, sometimes densely scaly, bases persistent. Lamina once pinnate (in Australian species); pinnae entire, leathery, mostly glabrous; veins obscure, forked and free. Sori linear, submarginal, protected at first by continuous, pale, reflexed leaf margin.