In the screening programme using selective media with streptomycin (25, 50 and 100 gamma/ml) and bruneomycin (0.5, 1 and 2 gamma/ml) 3 unusual actinomycetous cultures forming short, rarely long chains of straight, hook-like or spiral spores with 1 or rarely 2 turns were isolated. The study of the cell wall composition of the isolates showed that the walls contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and a sugar madurose. On the basis of the morphological structure and the cell wall composition the isolates were classified as belonging to Actinomadura. Comparison of the cultures with the Actinomadura species described in the literature showed that the isolates were new species of the genera, i. e. Am. coerulea sp. nov., Am. cremea sp. nov. and Am. salmonea sp. nov.