This note addresses a long-standing bibliographic error in the scientific literature regarding the authority and origin of the bacterial species name Rhizobium leguminosarum. The author traces how different publications have attributed this species name, revealing that early editions of Bergey's Manual cited Frank (1890) as the original authority. However, Buchanan et al. (1966) correctly identified the true original publication as Frank's work from 1879 in Botanische Zeitung. A subsequent error was introduced by Jordan and Allen (1974), who incorrectly cited the reference as appearing in Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft rather than Botanische Zeitung. This citation error was then perpetuated in later editions of the Approved Lists of bacterial names. The author proposes that this correction be made in future editions of the Approved Lists to ensure accurate scientific nomenclature and proper attribution of the species name Rhizobium leguminosarum.

Key findings

• The correct authority for Rhizobium leguminosarum is (Frank 1879) Frank 1889, not Frank 1890 as previously cited
• The original publication was in Botanische Zeitung 37 (1879), not Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft as incorrectly stated by Jordan and Allen (1974)
• A bibliographic error introduced in 1974 was repeated in subsequent editions of the Approved Lists of bacterial names
• Buchanan et al. (1966) correctly identified Frank's 1879 publication as the original source