The specific epithet refers to the gelatinous coat surrounding the ascospore.

The main characteristic that distinguishes the New Zealand species from other Vizella spp. is the gelatinous coat surrounding each ascospore. Müller & von Arx (1955), after examining Vizella gomphispora (Berkeley & Broome) Hughes, V. royenae von Arx & Müller, and V. bingervilliana C.Moreau & M.Moreau, concluded that these three species were conspecific with the older V. appendiculosa (Montagne & Berkeley) Theissen. In addition to the possession of a gelatinous coat, the New Zealand species differs from V. appendiculosa sensu lato in that (a) its ascospores have the hyaline band in the middle rather than close to the apex (Hughes 1953; von Arx & Müller 1975) and (b) rather than having thick hyphae composed of "almost cuboid" cells up to 12 µm wide (Hughes 1953), the width of its hyphal cells does not exceed 7 µm and the length varies from 5 µm to 35 µm. In common with the Australian V. oleariae Swart, both the conidial and ascal states of the New Zealand species are found in the same colony. However, the conidia of the New Zealand species, unlike those of V. oleariae, remain hyaline at maturity and the mycelium does not have the regular alternation of paired hyaline cells as with dark cells as described for V. oleariae (Swart 1971).