A polyphasic study was undertaken to establish the taxonomic status of a soil isolate. The organism, strain FXJ14(T), was found to have chemical and morphological properties characteristic of streptomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses based on an almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain and on the 120 nt variable gamma-region of the 16S rRNA molecule showed that it formed a distinct phyletic line within the range of variation encompassed by the genus Streptomyces. The sharp separation of the organism from representatives of the genus Streptomyces was strengthened by the fact that its BOX-PCR and RFLP of 16S rDNA-ITS fingerprints differed from those of over 450 recognized Streptomyces species. The isolate also had a profile of phenotypic properties that readily distinguished it from the genotypically close type strains. It is evident from the combination of genotypic and phenotypic data that strain FXJ14(T) (=AS 4.1858(T)=JCM 12278(T)=LMG 22082(T)) should be classified as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces glauciniger sp. nov. is proposed.