The Greek root is diplazein meaning double: the indusia in this genus lie on both sides of the vein.

The Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I) places the genus in the Athyriaceae.

[1] The taxonomy of the genus is difficult and poorly known, and by 2009 has never been the subject of a complete monographic study.

Its fronds are deciduous or evergreen, are trophopodic[nb 1] and are either monomorphic or weakly dimorphic.

The blades are either singular or in sets of two and are entirely pinnate, range from oblong-lanceolate to deltate, and from herbaceous to papery.