Key to the species of Litophyton group III (6 species)

(polyps with many scales)

1. Interior of the base of the stalk with small spindles with side branches.................................... L. legiopolypum

-. No interior stalk spindles with side branches.................................................................... 2

2. Interior of the base of the stalk with short (<1mm) spindles with pointed or blunt ends.................................. 3

-. Interior of the base of the stalk with long (> 1mm) pointed spindles.................................................. 5

3. Stalk sclerites with simple tubercles.................................................................... L. simplex

-. Stalk sclerites with simple and complex tubercles................................................................ 4

4. Interior stalk sclerites with pointed ends............................................................. L. squamatum

-. Interior stalk sclerites with blunt and pointed ends....................................................... L. oxleyensis

5. Slender interior stalk sclerites, few unilaterally spinose spindles........................................... L. brewerensis

- Wide interior stalk spindles and many unilaterally spinose spindles......................................... L. snakeensis