Its leaves are highly divided, with leaf segments joined by shiny, chestnut-brown axes, and their undersides are coated with white powder, giving the fern its name.

[4][5] These are about 3 millimeters (0.1 in) long, thin and delicate,[4] narrowly lanceate[5] or linear[4] and entire (toothless) at the edges.

[4] The final divisions of the blade are oblong to ovate,[4][6] and the dark color of the axes passes into their base, without a distinct joint.

[4] The blade tissue is bluish green[2] and somewhat leafy in texture (rather than densely leathery); veins are often visible on the upper surface of the leaf.

The epithet dealbata, meaning "covered in white powder",[9] refers to the coating of farina on the underside of the leaves.

Initially misidentified as Notholaena nivea, he noted that the Missouri material was smaller and more highly divided, and commented on the white powder on the underside of the leaves, lacking in Pursh's description.

[13][a] Delineating natural genera in the cheilanthoids has proven to be extremely difficult, and other placements of the species were subsequently put forward.

[21] In 2018, Maarten J. M. Christenhusz transferred the species to Hemionitis as H. artax (the epithet dealbata was preoccupied), as part of a program to consolidate the cheilanthoid ferns into that genus.

[1] Kunze suggested the species was suitable for cultivation, noting that it was grown in Berlin in a well-lit part of the greenhouses.

[25] George Schneider suggested it required "cool treatment", perhaps in contrast to the desert-dwelling members of the genus.

[26] It has been described as preferring medium light, and relatively dry, well-drained soil mixed with sand, perhaps of high pH.