Stem nodules of the legume Sesbania rostrata are ovoids, contain chlorophyll and have determinate growth. They possess a large central mass of infected cells. Stem mamillae are regularly arranged in vertical files along the stem and develop into nodules when they are infected by a specific Rhizobium. Each nodule arises from the development of an infected region of the incipient root cortex. The infection in S. rostrata has been shown to proceed in four sequential stages. Some of them have never been shown to occur in other legumes: (i) bacterial penetration takes place in degenerated (dead) cortical cells; (ii) proliferation of the bacteria occurs in the intercellular cavities and initiates a meristematic nodule; (iii) protusion of infection threads at first occurs intercellularly and then intracellularly from the cavities; (iv) finally there is an intracellular release of Rhizobia by an endocytotic process.