The rhizomes of this fern are short and slender, creeping, about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters (0.1 in) in diameter, and covered with reddish-brown scales. Laminae are close-set on the rhizome, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate in shape and once-oinnate, the lower pinnae separate, short-stalked, narrowly to broadly ovate and entire or crenate. Pinnae become sessile, narrowing to a pinnatifid apex and shallowly lobed or serrate-dentate at the very tip. Blades typically are 1.3 to 3.3 centimeters (0.5 to 1.3 in) wide and 3.5 to 10 centimeters (1.4 to 4 in) long, though L.C. Crawford  reported fronds up to 20 centimeters (8 in) in length in 1951.  

Stipes are slender, erect to spreading or ascending, generally straw-colored, though darker and brownish toward the base. The upper surface of the blade tissue is yellow-green, dull, and the lower surface is slightly paler. Both surfaces of the laminae are covered with many scattered acicular hairs, especially on the axes and veins. Sori are elongate, linear, somewhat irregular and about 5 millimeters (0.2 in) long. The sporangia, also covered with acicular hairs, are rather loosely and medially arranged along the branch veins of the pinnae. Indusia are absent. 

Alabama streak-sorus fern is a threatened plant that can only be found in Alabama. Currently, the Alabama streak-sorus fern is only known from one drainage, the Sipsey Fork. Beginning in 2013, the Alabama Natural Heritage Program, which is part of Auburn University’s Museum of Natural History, conducted a 5-year inventory and monitoring effort of the Alabama streak-sorus fern within the Bankhead National Forest.

The purpose of this study was designed to address the following three parameters:

• To update existing census data - redefining occurrence boundaries in accordance to element occurrence specifications under the guidelines of natural heritage protocol developed by NatureServe
• To establish long-term monitoring plots for T. burksiorum to assess population trends associated with climate change climate change
  Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
  
  Learn more about climate change
• To conduct systematic inventory efforts for new occurrences

These status surveys revisited some of the original 19 locations, as well as sites in between known sites, and did not discover any new populations of the fern in adjacent drainages, nor have new populations been reported by other botanical surveys in the Bankhead National Forest or surrounding area. U.S. Forest Service biologists have also revisited some of the original 19 locations, as well as sites in between known sites, but found no new occurrences. Although the Bankhead National Forest provides for standards and protective measures for the fern, this species could be threatened by a rise in impoundment level of the downstream reservoir, a loss of forest cover due to fire, timbering on the slopes overlooking the river or a loss of hemlock trees leading to changes in shade, humidity and moisture gradients in fern habitat. Development of private inholdings and recreational use of the river corridor could also negatively impact this species.