THE HAGUE: A newly discovered species of orange-colored mold has been named after soon-to-be Dutch king Willem-Alexander and his family, the scientists behind the move said Friday.
The mold was named after the Prince of Orange, the title given to the Dutch crown prince, “because what distinguishes this penicillin is its orange color, a very rare phenomenon,” Pedro Crous, head of the Dutch CBS-KNAW fungal research center said in a statement. One mold has been called penicillium vanoranjei (’of orange’ in Dutch, in reference to the royal house of Orange-Nassau) and one P.maximae, after his Argentine-born wife Maxima.
The other three are named P. amaliae, P. alexiae and P. arianeae after the couple’s three young daughters. Queen Beatrix, 75, is to abdicate in favor of Willem-Alexander, 45, in Amsterdam on April 30. Scientists have not yet worked out whether the new molds will serve any useful medical purpose.
New orange mold named in honor of Dutch royals
New orange mold named in honor of Dutch royals
