[3] Gymnocarpium disjunctum is a medium green fern with delicate-looking leaves that grows from a long slender creeping rhizome.

The leaves do not arise from a central point but rather grow up individually from the creeping rhizome, often forming a loose grouping on the forest floor.

The petioles (stipes) are 1-3 mm in diameter and 12-44 cm long with sparse glandular hairs distally.

The leaves are bright to medium green and are 20-68 cm in length, with a broadly deltate blade, and are 3-pinnate to pinnatifid.

The largest pinnae are up to 18 cm long and are held nearly perpendicular to the rachis (leaf stem).