The Y-branching pattern of Bazzania combined with the geotropic flagella arising from the underside of the stem is usually sufficient to distinguish it in the field. However, Bazzania may be mistaken for the related Acromastigum which has a similar set of characters. The latter genus is usually smaller and the leaves are consistently two-lobed.

B. adnexa and B. monilinervis are probably the most common species.