Microlepia C.Presl

Terrestrial ferns. Rhizomes short- to long-creeping, bearing multicellular hairs. Fronds monomorphic. Stipes hairy. Laminae 2–3-pinnate (NZ) or 1-pinnate or 4-pinnate (not NZ), herbaceous (NZ) or coriaceous (not NZ), bearing non-glandular hairs; primary pinnae stalked, lacking basal pinnule-like stipules. Veins free. Sori round (NZ) or broader than long (not NZ), on a slightly raised receptacle, submarginal; paraphyses present (NZ) or absent (not NZ). Indusia half-cup-shaped, attached at base and sides (NZ), or rarely cup-shaped (not NZ). Spores trilete, finely echinate or almost smooth.

Microlepia is closely related to, and often difficult to distinguish from, Dennstaedtia. Molecular evidence (Schuettpelz & Pryer 2007; Perrie et al. 2015) suggests that it is monophyletic and sister to one clade of Dennstaedtia. It is slightly more homogeneous cytologically than Dennstaedtia, with base chromosome numbers of x = 40, 42, 43 and c. 44 reported (Brownsey 1998). The genus is in need of revision.

In New Zealand, Microlepia can be recognised by its creeping rhizomes, highly divided laminae bearing non-glandular hairs, more or less round submarginal sori, and half-cup-shaped indusia attached at the base and sides.

Microlepia was described by Presl (1836) but is pre-dated by Scyphofilix, published 30 years earlier by Thouars (1806). They were both lectotypified with the same type by Farwell (1931), who argued that Scyphofilix had priority over Microlepia. Nevertheless, Farwell’s work has been ignored and Microlepia almost universally adopted as the name for this genus. Schwartsburd (2017) proposed that Microlepia should be conserved against Scyphofilix.