Go, Green Algae

Amid all the sound and fury expended in the controversy over an appropriate symbol for the College, apparently none of the principals in the debate noticed what an Indian scientist had done to help relieve, in nature's own way, the symbol vacuum. News of this achievement comes by way of a letter from Professor Emeritus Hannah Croasdale, whose career at Dartmouth started in 1935 and whose research in desmid taxa, tiny forms of plant life, has earned an international reputation.

Before leaving on a recent trip to Florida, where she is continuing her pursuit of desmid taxa, Professor Croasdale wrote:

"Do you want this kind of thing for the Alumni Magazine? It may be the first time that the name of Dartmouth has been incorporated into the name of a plant or animal, so it might be of interest.

"The background is this: A new species of chlorophyta (green algae) was discovered in India by Professor M. R. Suxena, and named after me: Cosmariumcroasdaleae. However, this name had previously been used for a new species described by a scientist in Finland, so the name had to be changed. Professor Suxena, still wishing to honor me, suggested he name it after either my place of birth, my alma mater, or Dartmouth, and I chose the latter.

"The plant is microscopic, and looks like this:

"The new name, Cosmarium dartmouthii, is explained in a footnote added to another paper by Professor Suxena and his colleague Dr. Venkateswarlu, published in the Indian journal, Phykos.

"The full name of this plant is Cosmarium dartmouthii Suxena & Venkateswarlu.

"Happy New Year."