FAMILY COCCACE^ ZOPF. 123 



which again grow out into perfect spheres. Endospores 

 and flagella very rare. Before division the cells may be 

 one and a half times as long as broad, laint staining then 

 revealing an unstained line of division. 



1. The cells divide (almost) only in one direction of 

 space at right angles to the direction of growth, so that if 

 the products of division remain attached, they form (es- 

 pecially in bouillon) shorter or longer rosary-like chains, 

 the chains often consisting of distinct pairs of cocci. Under 

 certain circumstances there are only (or largely) pairs of 

 cocci instead of chains. Streptococcus Billroth. 1 



2. The cells regularly divide, at least on the most suitable 

 nutrient medium (hay decoction), in three directions of 

 space, 2 and remain united in larger or smaller cubical fam- 

 ily groups. Sarcina Goodsir. 



3. The cells divide irregularly in various directions, so 

 that there occur single cocci, single groups of from two to 

 four cells, and, finally and preponderantly, irregular 

 grouped bunches. Here belong all forms that do not 

 appear as undoubted streptococci or sarcinae. Micrococcus 

 Cohn. 



The recognition of these three genera of cocci is largely 

 artificial, and there occur perfect transitions. 



The genus Staphylococcus Ogston has no botanical 

 rights, for the property of forming " grape-like " clusters is 

 possessed at times by all varieties described to-day as mi- 

 crococci. The name staphylococcus does not primarily 

 designate any "new" genus. Ogston found (microscop- 

 ically) two forms of micrococci in pus (without cultivating 

 them), grape cocci and chain cocci, and designated them 

 by the well-chosen names of Staphylococcus and Strepto- 

 coccus ( Billroth ) . Rosenbach later cultivated the varieties 



1 Here belongs Leuconostoc Cienc., which is only a streptococcus 

 with at times enormously thick capsules (see below). ' Also part of the 

 ' ' diplococci ' ' are naturally included here. 



2 The varieties which, by division in two planes at right angles to 

 each other, form flat groups, and which are described by authors as 

 pediococcus, merista, merismopedia, we leave among the micro- 

 cocci. Since even the "genus" Sarcina is separated with difficulty, 

 we do not recognize the need for the genera planococcus and planosarcina 

 of Migula, which are founded upon one or two flagellated varieties, 

 especially as the formation of flagella varies (see below). 



