The title compound, C(36)H(36)N(4)O(4), was prepared as a spiro-lactam ring formation of the rhodamine dye for comparison with a ring-opened form. The xanthene ring system is approximately planar [r.m.s. deviations from planarity = 0.023 (9) Å for the xanthene ring]. The dihedral angles formed by the spiro-lactam and 1,3-benzodioxole rings with the xanthene ring system are 86.8 (1) and 74.3 (1)°, respectively.