The type specimen was collected by Ove Almborn in the Cathedral Peak area of South Africa, where it was found growing on a rock in Indumeni forest.

[3] André Aptroot later rejected this proposal, suggesting sufficient morphological differences exist for P. missouriensis to warrant distinction as an independent species.

[4] Punctelia punctilla has a light mineral grey foliose thallus with darker margins.

There are abundant pseudocyphellae on that thallus surface; they are white, rounded to elongated, and measure up to 0.5 mm.

It was found growing on rocks at the base of a rocky outcrop in southern coastal California, in Point Mugu State Park; this area has a Mediterranean climate.