Abstract: Athyrium sect. Strigoathyrium Ching et Y. T. Hsieh is a natural group in the genus. All the species of this section are common in morphological features distinguished from other groups by the presence of the long slender spine-like processes on the upper surface along rachis, costa and costule, and thin tecture of the blade with or without gemmae near the apex of the rachis. It could be divided into two series based on the spore with or without episporium. Ser. 1. Pectinata Ching et Y. T. Hsieh, only one species, rhizome long creeping, spore with episporium; Ser. 2. Strigillosa Ching et Y. T. Hsieh, there are twenty-two species in China, all have a erect rhizome except A. chingianum Z. R. Wang et X. C. Zhang ex X. C. Zhang, and the spores all without episporium.#br#In this section there are four species extending west to India, Skimm, Bhutan, Nepal, and three reaching east to Japan. The distribution center of this section where may be in Henduang Mount regions, there are eight endemic species.