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The unidentified streptococci from plants are catalase negative, gram positive, usually lanceolate cells occurring in pairs and short chains. More than one-half of the 505 strains investigated conform generally to the description of Streptococcus faecium, but many deviate in one or more of Sherman's characteristics, growth on bile-esculin agar, and acidification of milk. A few strains superficially resemble Streptococcus lactis. The strains not termed S. faecium-like are heterogeneous in adherence to Sherman's characteristics, growth and pigmentation on tellurite andtetrazolium agars, and the heme peroxidase reaction; 35 fermentation patterns were established from the fermentations of arabinose, raffinose, melezitose, melibiose, mannitol, and sorbitol. The diversity in properties indicatesthat the cultural reactions do not permit definitive characterization or speciation. It is suggested that the S. faecium-like strains have provided the ancestral pool from which the species as now described has become adapted to life within the animal host.
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