174 



A NEW LE VAN-GUM-FORMING BACTERIUM. 



{Bacillus heniiphloice, n.sp.) 



By R. Greig-Smith, D.Sc, Macleay Bacteriologist to the 



Society. 



While examining the bacteria in the tissues of a seedling of 

 Eucalyptus hemiphloia, and of a gall (presumably Crown-gall) on 

 the stem of a pear tree, I came upon a microbe which produced 

 levan-gum from saccharose. Two bacteria possessing this pro- 

 perty have already been described,* but this microbe differed 

 from Bac. levanifor^mans in forming no spores, and from Bac. 

 eucalypti in fermenting certain sugars with the evolution of gas. 



The gum, as obtained from growing the bacterium in saccha- 

 i"Ose-peptone fluid and coagulating with alcohol, had all the 

 chemical and physical properties of levan-gum. Like Bac. levani- 

 fovmans., this microbe could bring about the deterioration of 

 unheated saccharine solutions; and, like Bac. eucalypti^ it might 

 cause a fermenting gum-flux of certain Eucalyptus-trees. 



On account of this apparent novelty, I suggest the name Bac. 

 hemiphloia', after the plant from which it was first obtained. 

 Its morphological and cultural characters are as follows. 



Bac. hemiphloia, n.sp. 



Sha2)e, etc. — A short rod measuring Ow//. in breadth, and from 

 0-8 to 1-7 /x in length. It is actively motile, and possesses from 

 one to nine peritricial flagella. No spores were observed. 



Nutrient agar-stroke. — A white, raised growth. 



Nutrie7it agar-plate. — Circular, white colonies which, micro- 

 scopically, may have a smooth or erose edge, and uniformly-spread 

 tine, central granules. The colony may have an annular marking, 

 or it may be coli-like, with a dark centre. 



These Proceedings, 1901, p. 589, and 1902, p. 230. 



