See Thelypteridaceae in appendix for description of family and key to Hawai 'i genera. Greek amauros, obscure,+ pelte, small shield, referring to the small, often obscure indusia characteristic of this genus.

Growth habit typical of Thelypteridaceae. Rhizomes usually erect, sometimes decumbent. Stipes grooved, straw-colored. Blades 1-pinnate-pinnatifid to 1-pinnate-pinnatisect, usually tapered and narrowed toward base. Pinnae with hemispheric, sessile, resinous glands some-times present, aerophores at bases of pinnae stalks often more or less swollen. Veins free, lower-most veins ending at margins above bases of sinuses. Sori usually supramedial. Indusia small to absent. A predominantly American genus of around 200 species, with minor representation in Africa and the Mascarene Islands, and three species on Pacific islands. Represented in Hawai 'i by one endemic species.