The epidermal morphology of fifteen species of Athyriaceae was investigated under light microscope. The results indicated that: epidermal cells of fifteen species of Athyriaceae are irregular, with concaveconvex or sinuate anticlinal walls. The length to width ratio of upper epidermal cells was between 1.0-3.2, and the length and width ratio of lower epidermal cells was between 1.0-2.6.In these 15 kinds of plants, 6 types of stomatal apparatus were observed, Polocytic type, Axillocytic type, Copolocytic type, Coaxillocytic type, Anomotetracytic type and Anomocytic type. Each plant has three to four types of stomatal apparatus, all the stomatal apparatuses occur in the lower epidermis, and most of them are elliptical. Stomatal length to width ratio was between 1.3-2.1; the stomatal density was 32-90/mm², and the stomatal index was 17.7%-40.9%. On the basis of the leaf epidermis morphology, 15 species of Athyriaceae can be divided into three categories, Diplazium, Athyrium, Deparia. According to the results of leaf epidermal morphology, the classification system of Christenhusz was supported to a certain extent. This study provided basic data for the classification and evolution of the species of Athyriaceae.