The morphology, chemistry and phylogenetic relationships of Chinese populationsof Bulbothrix are described. Nine species, including two newspecies B. mammillaria Y. Y. Zhang & Li S. Wang sp.nov. and B. lacinia Y. Y. Zhang & Li S. Wang sp.nov., and two newly recorded for the flora, B. scortella andB. meizospora, are reported. Bulbothrixmammillaria can be recognized by the sparse cilia that are reduced to abulbate structure and the broad lobes (3–11 mm). Bulbothrixlacinia differs from other species of the genus by dark brown,spherical to short-cylindrical isidia and common lacinulae on the upper surface.Phylogenetic relationships of currently known ITS sequences fromBulbothrix were inferred to assess the affinities of thenew species. A key to all known species from China is presented.

The type collection of Parmelia goebelii (Bulbothrix goebelii) was discovered to be a mixture of several different Bulbothrix species. The true identity of B. goebelii is established and problems regarding the variability of this species discussed. The species B. papyrina, B. scortella and B. subdissecta, synonymized with B. goebelii by Hale, are resurrected as valid taxa. A detailed description of B. goebelii is presented, its lectotype is selected, and the characteristics of all four species discussed.