Key to the species of Litophyton group V (11 species)

(polyp stalk with small rods)

1. Many crowded rods present in long polyp stalk........................................................ L. brachiatum

-. Fewer rods present in short polyp stalk......................................................................... 2

2. Polyp stalk with rods and ovals.............................................................................. 3

-. No ovals in polyp stalk..................................................................................... 4

3. Interior stalk sclerites include spindles with blunt ends................................................. L. burfordensis

-. Interior spindles only with pointed ends.................................................................. L. mollis

4. Interior stalk spindles include branched forms................................................................... 5

-. Interior stalk sclerites not branched............................................................................ 9

5. Interior stalk spindles small, less than 1 mm long, and slender................................................ L. folium

-. Interior stalk sclerites longer than 1 mm ........................................................................ 6

6. Interior stalk spindles with large rough tubercles....................................................... L. darleyensis

-. Interior stalk spindles with small tubercles...................................................................... 7

7. Interior stalk spindles wide, smaller ones heavily branched............................................ L. sanctuaryensis

-. All interior stalk spindles branched............................................................................ 8

8. Surface stalk sclerites mostly spindles................................................................... L. fusum

-. Surface stalk also with many derivatives of capstans................................................. L. horseshoeensis

9. Internal stalk spindles with blunt ends................................................................. L. crassum

-. Internal stalk spindles with pointed ends....................................................................... 10

10. Internal stalk spindles with distant coarse tubercles, unilaterally spinose sclerites of surface stalk large (- 0.25 mm). L. verrucosum

-. Internal stalk spindles with small fine tubercles, unilaterally spinose sclerites of surface stalk small (<0.20 mm).... L. swainensis