[2][3] The name silvery comes from the fact that the indusia on the underside of the leaf have a silver color when the sori are close to ripening.

The stem is typically grooved on the upper side, much shorter than the leaf blade and darker colored near its base, being dark red or brown; as the stem reaches the leaflets it becomes a pale green color.

The sori are pinnately arranged on the subleafets in a pattern which follows the veination; they are typically straight or slightly curved with a thick indusia with an entire margin.

[4][5][6] The fertile pinnae can be described as acrostichoid as the sporangia covers almost the entirety of the underside of the leaf surface.

Silvery spleenwort is a common fern in stream bottoms, moist woods, and cool shaded areas throughout its range.