DESCRIPTIONOF HOLZAPFELIA GEN. NOV.

Holzapfelia (Holz.ap.fe’li.a. N.L. fem. n. Holzapfelia, named after Wilhelm Holzapfel, a microbiologist and taxonomist who made significant contributions to the understanding of the physiology and applications of lactic acid bacteria).

Strainsof Holzapfelia are Gram positive, rod-shaped, catalase negative, homofermentative and aerotolerant. The type strain of the single species in the genus was isolated from mountain flowers, other strains were identified in bee larvae. H. floricola grows at 15 but not at 37 °C; glucose and fructose are the only carbohydrates that are fermented. The sources of isolation as well as genomic and physiological properties of the organism indicate an insect- and flowerassociated lifestyle of the genus.

The type species of Holzapfelia is H. floricola .