class MiGA::Taxonomy

def normalize_rank(rank)

Returns cannonical rank (Symbol) for the +rank+ String
# 
def normalize_rank(rank)
  return unless rank
  return rank.to_sym if @@_KNOWN_RANKS_H[rank.to_sym]
  rank = rank.to_s.downcase
  return if rank == 'no rank'
  rank = @@RANK_SYNONYMS[rank] unless @@RANK_SYNONYMS[rank].nil?
  rank = rank.to_sym
  return unless @@_KNOWN_RANKS_H[rank]
  rank
end