Phylogenetic relationships of seven cetrarioid lichens – Ahtiana sphaerosporella, Esslingeriana idahoensis, Kaernefeltia merrillii, Tuckermannopsis americana, T. platyphylla, T. subalpina and Vulpicida canadensis – occurring in British Columbia are analysed together with seven other cetrarioid species using parsimony analysis. The phylogenetic hypothesis based on ITS sequences suggest that ascus characters cannot be used as characters to distinguish genera within cetrarioid lichens but pycnoconidial shape is representative for larger groups. Tuckermannopsis as a polyphyletic genus is regarded as a key group for a better phylogenetic understanding of cetrarioid lichens.