Six species are currently recognized by the Society. Each is classified by the tree it imitates, its typical range, and how convincing its disguise is.
Kingdom
Telecommunicata
Phylum
Antennophyta
Class
Arboriformes
Order
Camouflagiales
Family
Cellulariidae
Genus
Cellularis
Cellularis pinus-falsus
The type species of the genus and by far the most common. Its tiered, perfectly regular branches give it the look of a holiday tree that has been left up all year.
- Panels mounted in the top third, partly hidden by branch “socks”
- Branches stop well short of the ground
- Bark often molded in a repeating pattern
- Range
- Temperate zones worldwide; most common in North America and South Africa
- Habitat
- Highway shoulders, office parks, suburban church lots
- Disguise
- 3/5
- Registry
- 0 sightings
Cellularis palmifrons
A tall, clean-trunked species with a crown of stiff fronds that conceals the antenna array. Easily mistaken for the real thing when planted among true palms.
- Unusually dense, symmetrical frond crown
- Trunk taller than neighboring palms
- Fronds do not move in wind
- Range
- Southwestern United States, Mediterranean, Middle East, Latin America
- Habitat
- Resort frontages, shopping centers, stadium car parks
- Disguise
- 4/5
- Registry
- 0 sightings
Cellularis saguaro-simulans
A regional endemic. Its antennas sit inside the main column, which makes it one of the best-disguised species, though its arms are suspiciously symmetrical.
- Arms placed at matching heights
- Column wider at the top than a real saguaro
- No bird holes, ever
- Range
- Sonoran Desert: Arizona, southern California and northern Mexico
- Habitat
- Desert roadsides, golf courses, master-planned communities
- Disguise
- 4/5
- Registry
- 1 sighting
Cellularis quercus-imitans
A broadleaf imitator whose rounded canopy never changes color. In autumn it is the only green tree in sight, which makes it the easiest species to identify.
- Evergreen in every season
- Panels visible above the canopy
- Canopy floats on a bare pole
- Range
- Western Europe, eastern United States, Japan
- Habitat
- Parks, rural ridgelines, motorway service areas
- Disguise
- 2/5
- Registry
- 0 sightings
Cellularis eucalyptoides
A loose, airy species with sparse leaf clusters. The gaps between clusters leave its antennas exposed, so observers often spot it from far away.
- Leaf clusters arranged in rings
- Smooth, pale painted trunk
- Antennas visible between clusters
- Range
- Australia, New Zealand, coastal California
- Habitat
- Bushland edges, coastal highways, school grounds
- Disguise
- 3/5
- Registry
- 0 sightings
Cellularis cupressus-fictus
The rarest and most elegant member of the genus. Its narrow flame shape hides everything inside, and specimens in Tuscany are counted among the finest disguises known.
- Slightly too tall for its grove
- Perfectly smooth outline
- Shows no wind lean
- Range
- Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece and the hills above Los Angeles
- Habitat
- Vineyards, hilltop villages, cemeteries
- Disguise
- 5/5
- Registry
- 0 sightings