[3] The species was later reclassified in Xanthoparmelia when Arne Thell, Tassilo Feuerer, John Alan Elix, and Ingvar Kärnefelt established the new name X. ovealmbornii, which honours the Swedish lichenologist Ove Almborn.

[4] Xanthoparmelia ovealmbornii is a subfruticose lichen (having a somewhat shrub-like growth form) that grows in a loosely spreading to slightly cushion-like manner, reaching up to 5 cm across.

This tissue consists of fungal threads (hyphae) that are tightly packed and arranged parallel to the length of the branches, embedded in a dense matrix.

The species is found at high elevations, growing on sandy rock surfaces at altitudes of 2,000 m (6,600 ft) or higher in mountainous areas.

[3] Due to the limited number of specimens collected, a complete understanding of the species' full distribution range and ecological preferences remains uncertain, though its apparent restriction to the Cape Floristic Region suggests it may be another example of the high plant and lichen endemism characteristic of this biodiversity hotspot.