It belongs to the genus Verrucaria, a group of lichens characterised by their small, flask-shaped fruiting bodies (perithecia) and crustose growth form.

Despite its morphological similarities to these species, V. subdevergens is genetically distinct, with DNA analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region showing a sequence divergence of 5.4–6.0% from its closest relative, V. kuusamoensis.

[2] The thallus (lichen body) of Verrucaria subdevergens varies in colour from white or grey to ochraceous or pale greyish-brown.

[2] The perithecia are moderately large (0.21–0.42 mm in diameter) and partially immersed in the rock substrate, leaving shallow to deep pits.

Its discovery helps demonstrate the importance of the Oulanka area as a hotspot for lichen diversity, particularly for calcicolous (lime-loving) species.