From the very beginning, there has been uncertainty over the taxonomic position of nocardioforms, i.e., bacteria that resemble Nocardia organisms. The specific taxonomy of isolates of this heterogenous group of organisms is still in flux and controversial (275, 278, 403, 404, 420, 584, 676, 699). During the ensuing 100 years, it has been shown that N. asteroides is a heterogeneous taxon (275, 403, 404, 420). It is not within the scope of this review to address this complex subject, yet it is important to note that N. asteroides, as currently defined, probably consists of several subtypes and/or species. These include N. asteroides sensu stricto, N. farcinica, N. nova, and several distinct serotypes and biotypes (278, 403, 404, 698, 699, 727). Regardless of their designation, all of these varieties of the N. asteroides taxon have been isolated from humans and animals with serious (often fatal) infections (93, 584, 698, 699). The other pathogenic Nocardia species appear to be taxonomically more homogeneous and include N. brasiliensis, N. otitidiscaviarum (N. caviae), and N. transvalensis (275, 420). There is even one Nocardia species that infects plants: N. vaccinii, which causes galls on blueberry plants (420).