Description
Most of the southern Australian species can be immediately recognised as belonging to this genus by their characteristic zigzag branching pattern. Identification of individual species is generally more difficult and relies on the size and shape of branches, particularly terminal branches, which are specialised reproductive structures known as receptacles. Due to their local diversity and dominance in southern Australia, they are regarded by some as 'the eucalypts of the underwater world'.Species
There are currently 26 accepted species of ''Cystophora'': * '' Cystophora botryocystis'' Sonder * '' Cystophora brownii'' (Turner) J.Agardh * '' Cystophora cuspidata'' J.Agardh * '' Cystophora cymodocea'' Womersley & Nizamuddin ex Womersley * '' Cystophora dumosa'' (Greville ex Sonder) J.Agardh * '' Cystophora expansa'' Womersley * '' Cystophora fibrosa'' Simons * '' Cystophora flaccida'' J.Agardh * '' Cystophora gracilis'' Womersley * '' Cystophora grevillei'' (C.Agardh ex Sonder) J.Agardh * '' Cystophora harveyi'' Womersley * '' Cystophora intermedia'' J.Agardh * '' Cystophora monilifera'' J.Agardh * '' Cystophora moniliformis'' (Esper) Womersley & Nizamuddin * '' Cystophora pectinata'' (Greville & C.Agardh ex Sonder) J.Agardh * '' Cystophora platylobium'' (Mertens) J.Agardh * '' Cystophora polycystidea'' Areschoug ex J.Agardh * '' Cystophora racemosa'' (Harvey ex Kützing) J.Agardh * '' Cystophora retorta'' (Mertens) J.Agardh * '' Cystophora retroflexa'' (Labillardière) J.Agardh (type) * ''References