It was originally drawn very broadly, including all ferns that had sori apparently "acrostichoid", or distributed in a uniform mass across the back of the frond, rather than organized in discrete sori.

[2] This led Linnaeus to include such species as Asplenium platyneuron in the genus, because the specimen he received had sori so crowded that it appeared acrostichoid.

The species of Acrostichum are massive ferns, with fronds up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall, that depend on a semi-aquatic existence.

The species Acrostichum aureum is known to have a high saltwater tolerance, growing in mangroves.

(Inland leather fern) A. aureum L. (Coast/golden leatherfern) A. speciosum Willd.