A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain designated IBFC2009(T) was isolated from soil of a bamboo plantation. The strain could grow at 11 degrees C approximately 39 degrees C, pH 6.0-9.0, and in the presence of 0 approximately 5% NaCl. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, Strain IBFC2009(T) belonged to the genus Sphingobacterium and showed the highest sequence similarity of 94.6% (S. composti T5-12(T)) with the type strains within the genus. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (iso-C(15:0) 2-OH and/or C(16:1) omega7c, 34.4%), iso-C(15:0) (22.4%), C(16:0) 3-OH (15.2%), and iso-C(17:0) 3-OH (12.8%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 41.0 mol%. According to the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, Strain IBFC2009(T) should represent a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium bambusae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IBFC2009(T) (=CCTCC AB 209162(T) =KCTC 22814(T)).