Punctelia caseana can be readily distinguished from the common North American species Punctelia rudecta because the latter has isidia rather than soredia. Two lookalikes, Punctelia perrituculata and P. subrudecta, both produce medullary gyrophoric acid and have a pale lower surface, like Punctelia caseana. However, they have short conidia, and P. perrituculata has a surface texture covered with small round pits or grooves (scrobiculae).
