The identification of members of the Ramalina polymorpha grex is often complicated by the considerable morphological variation and intergradation of the characters within the group. Based on a broad chemical and morphological study of this group and its ecology and distribution, we recognize two distinct taxa: Ramalina polymorpha (Ach.) Ach. and Ramalina capacita (Ach.) Nyl., the latter including the rest of the morphological variations encountered on the Iberian Peninsula, wich are treated here as varieties. Key words: lichens, Ramalina, chemotaxomomy, Spain.