The name walking fern was derived from the way the fern spreads. The underside of each leaf contain sori, and when the tip of the leaf touches the ground, new planlets sprout, creating a "walking" effect. The evergreen, undivided, slightly leathery leaves are triangular and taper to a thin point. Sori, the spore-bearing structures, are distributed in clusters along the veins on the underside of the leaves. The plant can be found in the shady areas of limestone ledges and in limy forest places. Asplenium ruprechtii is smaller than its relative, Asplenium rhizophyllum, and usually has cuneate bases to its fronds, whereas A. rhizophyllum usually has cordate frond bases.