The lichen genus Pyrenula (Pyrenulaceae) in Aotearoa | New Zealand was last comprehensively treated by Galloway (2007), who called for further targeted collecting. Since then, additional material, particularly from northern Te Ika-a-Māui | North Island and Rēkohu | Wharekauri | Chatham Island, has led to revised identifications and an improved understanding of species boundaries within the genus. Among the taxa requiring reassessment is Pyrenula moniliformis, an enigmatic species known only from the type. The species was recognised in herbarium specimens held in UNITEC from the Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Region of Aotearoa | New Zealand. These collections resulted in its rediscovery. Critical study of specimens and others that had been placed within P. moniliformis enabled detailed morphological comparisons, particularly of ascospore septation and size, and revealed that P. moniliformis sensu lato encompasses multiple taxa. Here, we present a revised circumscription of P. moniliformis sensu stricto, and describe four new species: P. dalmatioides A.J. Marshall, Blanchon, Aptroot & de Lange, P. largei A.J. Marshall, de Lange, Blanchon & Aptroot, P. quadratolocularis A.J. Marshall, de Lange, Blanchon & Aptroot, and P. solomonii A.J. Marshall, de Lange, Blanchon & Aptroot. For all five species, we provide morphological descriptions, ecological notes, distribution data, conservation assessments and a revised key to the members of Pyrenula moniliformis complex.

Keywords: lichen taxonomy, lichenized mycobiota, Pyrenula, Pyrenula moniliformis, Pyrenula dalmatioides sp. nov., Pyrenula largei sp. nov., Pyrenula quadratolocularis sp. nov., Pyrenula solomonii sp. nov., Aotearoa | New Zealand, Rēkohu

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