These Ramalinas had been classified as the “"bourgaeana type"”. Macaronesian species generally have a reverse chemistry type to that seen in "Niebla"; for example, triterpenes occur with depsidones, instead of depsides). The chemotypes of Macaronesian Ramalinas also seem related to the genus "Vermilacinia", especially in regard to the chemosyndrome seen in "V. tigrina", except zeorin is not mentioned for the Macaronesian species. In the Sonoran Desert lichen flora, the presence of (-)-16 α-hydroxykaurane is mentioned as key character for distinguishing "Vermilacinia" (as "Niebla") from "Ramalina". Additionally, R. Heber Howe had indicated the presence of chondroid strands was almost of generic importance, and perhaps would have distinguished what is now called "Vermilacinia" if thin-layer chromatography had been available to him during his time.