Latin re, back,+ curvus, bent, referring to the downcurved, drooping habit of the frond.

Plants delicate, usually epiphytic. Rhizomes thin, almost hairlike, without scales. Fronds -7-35 x 2-8 cm, tips usually recurved (drooping). Stipes glabrous, well separated at 1-2.5 em, partially winged near blade base. Blades 2-pinnate-pinnatifid to 3-pinnate, clustered, glabrous, light green, membranous. Pinnae linear-lanceolate, usually recurved. Veins single in ultimate segments.

Common epiphytic, epipetric, or occasionally terrestrial filmy fern often forming colonies on trees and old logs in wet, mossy forests, 270-1,525 m, all major islands.

Mecodium recurvum may be recognized by its thin, glabrous, clustered fronds, 2-lipped sori, light green color, and drooping habit. Sphaerocionium lanceolatum may resemble M. recurvum but may be distinguished by its hairiness and dark veins.