It is a spreading, terrestrial, deciduous fern growing to 60 centimetres (24 in) tall, with pinnate fronds.

Fronds distich, 5–30 centimetres (2.0–11.8 in), glabrous, deltoid in outline; petiole yellowish green, shorter than the pinnatipartite limb.

Sori round, 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in) in diameter, orange-yellow, arranged on each side of the midrib of segments.

[citation needed] Polypodium is derived from the Greek Polus, many, and podion, small foot, since the rhizome bears numerous roots.

Australe comes from the Latin auter, wind of the south, for in Europe, this species grows largely in the Mediterranean Basin.