Perennial fern with shortly creeping rhizome. Stipe dark-brown to black, shiny, subterranean stipe base swollen, semi-succulent and pale-green. Fronds closely packed, erect to arching up to 40cm long. Lamina ovate to narrowly deltate, 2- or 3-pinnate; pinnae thinly leathery, glabrous above, margins evenly dentate with many (6-20) small teeth. Sori oval up to 3mm long, clustered along costae; indusium entire.

Greek: adiantos = unwetted; refers to the water repelling pinnules of this genus.

This species is widespread in South Africa, common in winter rainfall areas of Western Cape.