The lichen is rare and is listed as imperiled by the Nature Conservatory.

[3][2] It grows to around 3–8 cm in diameter with shiny light yellow-green subirregular lobes that extend 1–2.5 mm wide.

[2] Xanthoparmelia joranadia is a member of the Xanthoparmelia mexicana group, a complex of similar species that differ mainly in their secondary chemistry.

[4] Found in the North American southwest with a majority of observations occurring in north Mexico[5] and the US state of New Mexico.

[1][6] Xanthoparmelia joranadia contains lecanoric and usnic acids.