''Mycoplana'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

Gram-negative bacteria Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that, unlike gram-positive bacteria, do not retain the Crystal violet, crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. Their defining characteristic is that their cell envelo ...

. The cells are slightly curved or irregularly shaped rods. Initially, the cells can form filaments, which can also be branched. After some time, the filaments break up into irregular rods. ''Mycoplana'' is motile by peritrichous

flagella A flagellum (; : flagella) (Latin for 'whip' or 'scourge') is a hair-like appendage that protrudes from certain plant and animal sperm cells, from fungal spores ( zoospores), and from a wide range of microorganisms to provide motility. Many pr ...

Etymology

The genus name'' Mycoplana'' consists of two words,'' mykos'' ("mushroom") and'' planos'' ("wandering"). It refers to the mobility and the similarity with

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

(the genus produces filaments like fungi).

References

George M. Garrity: ''Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology: Volume 2: The Proteobacteria Part C: The Alpha-, Beta-, Delta-, and Epsilonproteabacteria''. 2. Auflage, Springer, New York 2005, Rhizobiaceae Bacteria genera {{Hyphomicrobiales-stub