We can readily distinguish Neofabraea from Phlyctema based on their asexual morphs. Phlyctema species have eustromatic conidiomata, fusiform macroconidia, and filiform microconidia, while all the known Neofabraea species form acervular conidiomata, macroconidia that vary in shape (cylindrical-fusiform, allantoid to ellipsoid), and shorter microconidia.
Neofabraea was protected over Phlyctema ( Johnston et al. 2014), because the type species, Ph. vagabunda, was considered a member of Neofabraea, making Phlyctema a synonym of Neofabraea. However, the present study proved that these two genera are not taxonomically congruent (see below); therefore, Phlyctema and Neofabraea are accepted as distinct genera.