Cystopteridaceae

Terrestrial or rock crevice-dwelling ferns. Rhizome short- to long-creeping or suberect, covered in lanceolate, latticed or non-latticed scales. Fronds not articulated at the rhizome, closely spaced to distant; stipe bearing scales or hairs. Lamina thin-textured, 1–3 pinnate-pinnatifid; rachises and midribs rounded below, flattened and grooved above; veins free, terminating at leaf margin. Sori along veins, not on margins, round or slightly elongate, raised on a hardened receptacle, with indusium attached at the base and curving hood-like over the sporangia when young towards the margin, or without indusium (not Australia); spores monolete, non-chlorophyllous.