Nonsporeforming rods in pairs or chains. Gram-stain-positive. Nonmotile. Strictly anaerobic and catalase-negative. Produce lactic and butyric acids and small amounts of ethanol from glucose. Hydrolyze esculin but not gelatin, starch, or urea. Lecithinase- and lipase-negative. Cannot produce indole or reduce nitrate to nitrate. Have a type A wall containing meso-diaminopimelic acid.