Two strains of citrate-fermenting lactic streptococci isolated from milk products grew in markedly long chains with innumerable cells in the broth containing 10 mM or more citrate. Addition of a number of other organic acids and chelaters did not induce the long chain formation. The long chains reduced to normal short ones when divalent cations, such as Mn2+ and Ca 2+, were added to the growth medium.