Fern with short creeping rhizomes. Dormant in summer unless protected, new fronds appearing with the first winter rains. Fronds are upright up to 25cm long, stipe glabrous at maturity, dark brown; lamina are linear-lanceolate up to 25cm long, usually pinnate sometimes 2-pinnatifid; pinnae oblong-lanceolate, frequently lobed at the base, glabrous on both surfaces, margins prominently inrolled. Sori marginal, linear; indusium continuous.

Latin: hastata = spear-shaped referring to shape of the pinnae.