GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 211 



the interpretation of Article 57 and Recommendation XXXI of the 

 botanical code. The former states that when the difference between 

 two names, especially two generic names, lies in the termination, these 

 names are to be regarded as distinct even though differing by one letter 

 only. The latter reads: 



Many names differ by a single letter without risk of confusion. In cases where 

 a close approach to identity is a source of error (ex. Astrostemma and Asterosemrna 

 in one and the same family, Asclepiadaceae) only one, the older, of the names 

 should be kept in accordance with Article 51, 4°. 



This last Article reads : 



Every one should refuse to admit a name in the following cases: 

 4. When the group it designates embraces elements altogether incoherent, or 

 when it becomes a permanent source of confusion or error. 



Smith suggested the name Aplanobacter in its place. 



Vuillemin (1913, p. 519) states that lack of motility does not justify 

 generic recognition. 



Buchanan (1918, p. 33) recognized Bacteridium as a subgenus of 

 Bacillus to include the non-motile species, with Bacillus (Bacteridium) 

 anthracis Cohn as the type. 



CasteUani and Chalmers (1919, p. 933) revive the Bacteridium of 

 Schroeter with Bacteridium prodigiosum as the type. Their definition 

 (p. 958) is " Bacteridieae which are chromogenic." It constitutes the 

 type genus of the tribe Bacteridieae q.v. with the definition "Bacillaceae 

 growing well on ordinary laboratory media, without endospores, and 

 either fluorescent or chromogenic." 



It would seem that the use of the genus Bacteridium in bacteriology 

 and of Bactridium in mycology is valid if organisms of which the anthrax 

 bacillus is the type are to be grouped into a separate genus. The previ- 

 ous use of Bactridium should no more invalidate Bacteridium than 

 Micrococca Benth. a valid genus of the Euphorbiaceae created in 1849 

 should invalidate Micrococcus Cohn (1872). 



Bacterieae. A tribe of bacteria created by Trevisan (1879, p. 136) 

 with the following description : 



Bacteriaceae unicellulares. Individua globulosa vel ellipsoidea vel cylindrica, 

 e cellula unica conflata. Sporae intra cellulam matricalem solitariae. 

 Multiplicatio divisione cellularum vegetativa in unam vel duos vel omnes 

 directiones. 



