In the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016, it is the only genus in the family Desmophlebiaceae.

[2] The family and genus were erected in 2016, following a molecular phylogenetic study.

It was shown that the species previously known as Diplazium lechleri was sister to a clade formed by the families Hemidictyaceae and Aspleniaceae, considerably removed from the Athyriaceae where it had previously been classified.

[4]) In the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I), the family Desmophlebiaceae is a member of the subclass Polypodiidae (the leptosporangiate ferns), order Polypodiales, suborder Aspleniineae – a group known informally as "eupolypods II".

[1] A consensus cladogram showing one hypothesis for its relationship to other families in the suborder is:[1] Cystopteridaceae Rhachidosoraceae Diplaziopsidaceae Desmophlebiaceae Hemidictyaceae Aspleniaceae Woodsiaceae Onocleaceae Blechnaceae Athyriaceae Thelypteridaceae As of July 2019[update], Plants of the World Online accepts two species:[2]