Molecular phylogenies inferred from rbcL sequences including 39 representative members of the Laurencia complex confirm the four genera currently recognised within the complex: Laurencia sensu stricto, Osmundea, Chondrophycus and the recently described genus Palisada. Furthermore, Palisada poiteaui was resolved as a fifth independent lineage suggesting that the complex is actually composed of five rather than four genera. Palisada poiteaui is the type species of the subgenus Yuzurua, and elevation of this subgenus to generic rank is proposed. This new genus allied strongly with Laurencia s.s. However, the other intergeneric relationships were not well supported, suggesting that rbcL sequences may not have sufficient signal to clarify infrageneric relationships fully within the Laurencia complex.