Perennial glabrous herbs, terrestrial or epiphytic. Rhizome scaly, fibrous, mostly creeping. Leaves tufted, often firm, simple or compound; veins usually free. Sori borne on secondary oblique veins, not marginal, oblong to linear; indusium of same shape as torus, arising from vein and usually opening towards midrib. 2n = 72, 144, 288.