Stems ca. 5 mm diam.; scales dark brown, linear-lanceolate. Leaves pendent, sometimes erect in small plants. Petiole black, 1/10--1/5 length of blade, hairs few, unbranched; scales ovate to cordate, conspicuous, inflated. Blade linear-elliptic, 15--50 × 3--7 cm; base abruptly cuneate; apex tapering to acute. Segments linear, 1.5--2.5 mm wide, sparsely short-pubescent; segments at base of blade abruptly reduced to lobes, not deflexed. Veins 1-forked. Sori round; sporangia with 64 spores. 2 n = 148.

Sporulating all year. Epiphytic or occasionally on rock, wet woods, river banks, hammocks, and limesinks; 0 m; Fla.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America to s Brazil.