Xanthoria ectaneoides , usually recognised by its secondary sublobules, is circumscribed in a strict sense using spore size and a molecular phylogeny based on ITS-sequences. The species, earlier considered a synonym of X. aureola , forms a subclade with X. coomae and the new species X. pylyporlykii , described here, whereas X. aureola is positioned in the Xanthoria calcicola subclade. The new species X. pylyporlykii is characterised by a combination of characters typical either for Xanthoria ectaneoides or X. coomae.