Vermilacinia combeoides is a fruticose lichen found on rocks along the Pacific Coast of North America from Sonoma County, California south to San Quintín, Baja California, and also on Santa Catalina Island and Guadalupe Island.

The surface of the cortex appears uneven due to irregular protrusion of ridges and development of transverse cracks.

[1] Vermilacinia pumila is most similar to V. combeoides; the former differs by the shorter partly inflated branches, usually without apothecia.

The species (V. combeoides) was reported to occur in South America;[1] however, it was later concluded that the material cited for this record was from California mounted on the same specimen card with specimens of the South American species, V. ceruchis, for comparative purposes.

Studies are needed on the DNA phylogeny of the genera, which differ substantially both morphologically and chemically.