[as 'spectata'], Moscosoa 6: 213 (1990).

Synonyms: Index Fungorum

Protolog: Similis P. cuyabensi sed ostiolo erecto, ascomatis orbicularis 0.4-0.5 mm diametro et ascosporis 24-29 x 10-12 µm.

Protolog type data: Type. U. S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas: Tutu, 10-16 Mar 1923, Britton, Britton & Kemp 176 (NY, holotype; MICH, isotype).

Type locality: U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, Tutu, 13.3.1923, Britton, Britton & Kemp 176 (NY - holotype; MICH - isotype).

Type locality coordinates: 18°20'0?N, 64°53'0?W; 18.333333, -64.883333.

Molecular barcode: Data lacking.

Thallus: crustose, not pseudocyphellate, UV-. Ascomata immersed, hemispherical, 0.4-0.5 mm in diameter, 0.3 mm high; ostiole apical; crystals lacking. Hymenium not inspersed; hymenial gel IKI+ blue-green. Ascospores biseriate, fusiform, 4-celled, end cells smaller and elongated, 24-29 x 10-12 µm (Harris 1990: 213).

Photobiont: Data lacking.

Chemistry: No lichen substances (Harris 1990: 213).

Ecology: Corticate.

Distribution: Known only from the type, but expected for the Dominican Republic. Database

Molecular data: Genbank

Mycobank: Mycobank

Note: "Pyrenula expectata is named because a broad knowledge of variation in the Pyrenulaceae permits its existence to be predicted with some surety. The Pyrenula cuyabensis group to which P. expectata belongs is characterized by the lack of crystals in the ascomatal wall, hymenium IKI + blue-green lacking oil droplets and most importantly by the ascospore type which has the end locules reduced in size and elongated. Of the five species previously know for this group, four have parathelioid ascomata and one pyrenastroid. Pyrenula expectata has pyrenuloid ascomata and fills the gap in ascomatal types for this group of species. Within the Pyrenulaceae I believe that the paratheloid and pyrenastroid ascomatal types are as primitive as or perhaps even more primitive than the pyrenuloid type. Certainly in this case where all the known relatives are parathelioid or pyrenstroid, I feel sure that the pyrenuloid ascoma of P. expectata is derived" (Harris 1990: 213).

Pictures: Tropical Lichens