Etymology Greek: from pteron, a wing, referring to the shape of the pinnae, but the word pteris was used by the ancient Greeks for ferns in general..

Description Rhizome: erect to short-creeping, scales pale brown to black, concolored, elongate.
Frond: deciduous, monomorphic or somewhat dimorphic.
Stipe: longitudinally ridged, 2--3-grooved above, scaly at base, glabrous or scaly distally, vascular bundles: 1 or more.
Blade: 1-4 pinnate, oblong to lanceolate to deltate, herbaceous to leathery.
segments sessile to short-stalked, linear to oblong-lanceolate, veins conspicuous, free.
Sori: continuous, submarginal, indusium: false, sporangia: brown.