Description: Rhizome long-creeping, the apex covered with scales.
Fronds leathery, branched one or more times, each primary lateral axis being pinnately divided or more compound; pinnules linear, usually at right angles to the axes, divided into very numerous many small segments, 1–5 mm long, often pouch-like with revolute margins; glabrous or covered with woolly scales.
Sori solitary at the base of the segment, composed of 2–4, rarely 6, sporangia.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 10 species, tropical to southern temperate regions. Australia: 6 species, all States.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Ultimate segments of mature fronds pouch-like with strongly recurved margins; sori consisting of only 2 sporangia | Gleichenia dicarpa |
| Ultimate segments of mature fronds flat or only slightly recurved; sori usually consisting of 3 or 4 sporangia | 2 |
| 2 | Lateral axes with stellate hairs | 3 |
| Lateral axes glabrous or nearly so
Back to 1 | Gleichenia rupestris |
| 3 | Lower surface of ultimate lamina segments pale green; stellate hairs distributed ± evenly on lateral axes | Gleichenia microphylla |
| Lower surface of ultimate lamina segments glaucous; stellate hairs ± matted on lateral axes, especially on lower surfaces
Back to 2 | Gleichenia mendellii |
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