bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mesozoic Sporae Dispersae from Zaire - IV. Further contribution to the palynology of Stanleyville and Loia groups
Authors: Maheshwari H.K.
Published: September 2022

In this communication, results of palynological examination of some more samples of Stanleyville and Loia groups are reported. The Stanleyville samples are dominated by the Classopollis pollen. The palynologically productive range of the Loia Group in Samba bore-hole is now extended up to 682.42 m where Equisetosporites pollen predominate.
Leguminous woods from the Tertiary of District Kachchh, Gujarat, Western India
Authors: Guleria J.S.
Published: September 2022

The paper deals with eight fossil leguminous woods representing the modern woods of Albizia, Afzelia-Intsia, Cynometra, Dialium, Isoberlinia and Millettia-Pongamia. They have been reported for the first time from the Tertiary (Pliocene?) of district Kachchh. The first two genera are represented by two species each and the remaining by a single species. Among these, Dialium and lsoberlinia have been reported for the first time from India. The occurrence of the tropical African genus Isoberlinia is phytogeographically important as it indicates the possibility of migration of some of the African and Arabian elements in the Indian flora.
Microbiota from the Kushalgarh Formation, Delhi Supergroup, India
Authors: Mandal J. , Maithy P.K. , G. Barman  , K. K. Verma
Published: September 2022

Well-preserved and diverse microfossils are described for the first time from the Kushalgarh Formation of Ajabgarh Group around Baraud Village in Alwar District, Rajasthan. The assemblage comprises 10 genera and 17 species belonging to filamentous and coccoid blue-green algae, of which two genera and 10 species are new. The new forms are Myxococcoides compactus sp. nov., Palaeolyngbya distinctica sp. nov., P. elongata sp. nov., P. baraudensis sp. nov., Palaeoscytonema indica sp. nov., P. intermingle sp. nov., P. misrae sp. nov., Ghoshia bifurcata gen. et sp. nov., Primorivularia robusta sp. nov. and Vesicophycus problematieus gen. et sp. nov. Morphological features and the size range of taxa suggest procaryotic nature of the assemblage. Coccoid forms are aggregated in colonies and dominated by filamentous forms. Baraud assemblage contains hormogonia, heterocysts, and false branching and the most significant is the record of true branching showing Stigonematalean affinity. The composition of the microflora suggests that the rocks of the Delhi Supergroup are equivalent to Vindhyans. This is also supported by the radiometric dates.
Sidhiphyllites: A new Ginkgophytic leaf genus from the Triassic of Nidpur, India
Authors: Srivastava S.C.
Published: September 2022

Ginkgophytic leaves with carbonified crust, collected from Nidpur, have been designated as Sidhiphyllites flabellatus gen. et sp. nov. Though the cuticle lacks the constant cuticular characters of a ginkgoalean leaf, morphographically the leaves confirm the genus Ginkgoites Seward.
Occurrence of Anacardiaceous woods in the Tertiary of Western India
Authors: Guleria J.S.
Published: September 2022

The present paper deals with two fossil woods of the family Anacardiaceae showing the closest resemblance with the woods of the extant genera Gluta L. and Mangifera L. The former is described from the Banaskantha District of Gujarat and the latter from the Jaisalmer District of Rajasthan. The occurrence of these woods during the Tertiary in the above areas indicates that the climatic conditions were definitely more humid at the time of deposition of these woods than the present dry desertic conditions.
A new Cyanophycean remain from the Karharbari Formation, Giridih Coalfield, Bihar
Authors: Maithy P.K. , Misra P.K.
Published: September 2022

The present paper reviews the earlier work done on the Indian Permian algae and records a new Cyanophycean alga, Palaeowestiellopsis karharbariensis gen. et sp. nov., studied in cellular pulls taken from the stem surface of Phyllotheca indica Bunbury collected from the Karharbari Formation in Bengal-Nagpur Open Quarry. This new fossil alga is characterized by true branching, coiling of few branches, and a lack of sharp demarcation between the main filament and branches.
Quaternary Palaeobotany/Palynology in the Himalaya an overview
Authors: Vishnu-Mittre
Published: September 2022

The overview appraises critically the work on Quaternary palaeobotany/palynology carried out in the Himalayas during the last hundred years. The fluctuations in cool and temperate vegetation and climate during the early Quaternary (Lower Karewas), aspects of vegetational development during the last glacial and during the present inter-glacial period impart a glimpse of the changing patterns of vegetation through the Quaternary period. Further, it urges the construction of more pollen diagrams, intensification of research on the comparative database together with increased indigenous ecological insight and the sophistication in methodology to bring out invaluable information of biogeographical, geological and archaeological interests. The history of lake basins and fluctuations in hydrochemistry should be built up through the studies of diatoms in conjunction with pollen and spores.

The studies of the evolution of Quaternary floristics should not overlook the historical perspective, i.e, its evolution from the Miocene/Pliocene flora. The recognition of the transitional stage in the evolution of flora is highly imperative to demarcate the Neogene/Quaternary boundary on botanical grounds. A few names for various stages (vegetational/climatic phases) during the Quaternary have been proposed after the type sites in keeping with the Code of Stratigraphical Nomenclature for their use in bio-and chronostratigraphy. Besides, it emphasises the importance of indigenous ecological insight in solving the ecological problems and biogeographical riddles in the diversity of floristics in the Himalayas and determines the rate and extent to which the forests in the Himalayas have been adversely affected by the progressive increase in land use and by the progressive and selective exploitation of the forest constituents.
Palynological correlation of Coal seams in Kusmunda block, Korba Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Srivastava S.C.
Published: September 2022

Six bore-core samples from four boreholes in the Kusmunda block of the Korba Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh have been studied palynologically. The distributional pattern of various palynotaxa suggests the occurrence of three palynological assemblages. Assemblage A is characterized by the dominance of Horriditriletes and sub-dominance of Striatites and Faunipollenites. Assemblage B is marked by the dominance of Faunipollenites while Horriditriletes are subdominant. Assemblage C is characterized by dominant Scheuringipollenites whereas Faunipollenites and Horriditriletes are subdominants. Assemblages A and B show a younger aspect of the Barakar Stage and are present in the two successive coal seams, Upper and Lower Kusmunda, of bore-hole nos. NCKK-7 and NCKK-11. Assemblage C is present in coals supposed to be Upper Kusmunda seam of bore-hole nos. NCKK-16 and NCKK-18 but show an older aspect. Apparently, the so-called Upper Kusmunda seam met with in these two bore-holes is not palynostratigraphically the same as its namesake occurring in bore-hole nos. NCKK-7 and NCKK-11 and could more reasonably be older, underlying the Lower Kusmunda seam.
Morphotaxonomy of Heterophyllous Lycopsid shoot from the Rajmahal Hills, India
Authors: Pal P.K.
Published: September 2022

Morphology of the herbaceous lycopsid shoot occurring commonly in several localities of Rajmahal Hills, India has been studied. In earlier records, the fossil was figured as Araucarites(?) gracilis. Later, it was described as Cheirolepis gracilis and thereafter as Lycopodites gracilis. However, the present study reveals that the form of the shoot is precisely like that of a creeping Selaginella having two dorsal and two ventral ranks of microphyllous leaves. Therefore, it is being described here as Selaginellites gracilis.
Palynological studies of the Tethyan sequence in Malla Johar area, Kumaon Himalaya, India
Authors: Tiwari R.S. , Singh Vijaya , Kumar S. , Singh I.B.
Published: September 2022

The sediments ranging from Palaeozoic to Mesozoic in the Tethyan sequence of Malla Johar were palynologically analysed. In spite of ill-preservation, a significant assemblage has been recovered from the Upper Permian to Jurassic comprising 35 genera and 45 species of pollen and spores and a number of fungal as well as other alete forms. The Devonian sediments have also yielded a characteristic assemblage of Chitinozoa. The miospore assemblages show a general resemblance with the constituents of the corresponding miofloras known from Peninsular India. The comparisons with other miofloras indicate a Gondwana affinity rather than the Angarian resemblance.
The fossil floras of Kachchh. III - Tertiary megafossils
Authors: Lakhanpal R.N. , Guleria J.S. , Awasthi N.
Published: September 2022

A complete account of plant megafossils described so far from the Eocene, Miocene and Pliocene beds of Kachchh District has been given. The megafossils belong to Algae and Phanerogams. The algal remains comprise the calcareous red algae assigned to the family Corallinaceae. Out of eight species belonging to five genera, three species representing the two genera: Lithothamnium and Lithophyllum, have been reported from the Eocene and five species belonging to the genera Lithophyllum, Mesophyllum, Archaeoporolithon and Aethesolithon are from the Lower Miocene deposits. The phanerogamous megafossils have been described from the Lower Eocene, Miocene and Pliocene beds. The Eocene megafossils consist of leaf-impressions belonging to eight species of dicotyledons and one species of monocotyledons. The Miocene assemblage is based on leaf impressions, seeds and petrified woods assigned to 14 genera and 15 species of dicotyledons and a palm. The megafossils recovered from the Pliocene deposits are all petrified woods belonging to seven families (5 dicotyledons, 1 palm and I gymnosperm) represented by 14 genera. Besides, two palm woods and a graminaceous stem reported from unknown Tertiary horizons have also been included.

In the light of distribution of their modern comparable forms, all the components of the Tertiary flora of Kachchh are tropical. Because of the occurrence of moist evergreen as well as deciduous taxa, the flora can be placed under the category of "moist tropical semi-evergreen to deciduous forests". The environment of deposition seems to have been mainly lacustrine and fluviatile. The overall vegetation of Kachchh during the Tertiary period was more luxuriant than the scrubby vegetation thriving there today. Obviously the present xeric conditions are a result of post-Pliocene changes in the climate in this area. Even during the Tertiary, Kachchh witnessed periodic changes in climate. It was moist during the early Eocene, gradually becoming comparatively drier during early Miocene and again turning moist towards the end of Miocene.

The occurrence of marine algae in the Eocene and Miocene deposits indicates that there was transgression of sea in Kachchh during Eocene and Miocene epochs.
The fossil floras of Kachchh. V - Nature, composition and rank (Maturation) of Mesozoic coals
Authors: Prakash Anand
Published: September 2022

The petrographic and rank studies of Mesozoic coals have been carried out from Trambau, Rukmawati, Chawad and Guneri areas of Kachchh Basin. The vitrinite group of macerals and mineral matter form the dominant constituents of these coals and on the basis of their quantitative representation, three coal types, viz. (i) vitrinite/vitrite dominant type, (ii) mineral matter/carbominerite dominant type, and (iii) intermediate type have been suggested. The richness of mineral matter with the presence of pyrite and Sulphur in appreciable amount has been related with the deposition of the vegetal matter by shallow rapidly shifting channels of delta regime under the possible influence of marine conditions. The reflectance (rank) study has indicated a progressive increase in the maturation of coal towards the western part of the basin. This trend of maturation seems to have been resulted due to the intense tectonic activity in the north-western parts of the area. The rank study of coals also indicates that some of the sediments in the area have attained to a level of organic maturity corresponding to the oil generation zone.
Ancient crop economy of Harappans from Rohira, Punjab (C. 2,000 - 17,00 B.C.)
Authors: Saraswat K.S.
Published: September 2022

This paper records the discovery of seven kinds of carbonized grains belonging to the Indian dwarf wheat, emmer wheat, hulled barley, naked barley, lentil, horse-gram and fenugreek from the habitational deposits of mature-Harappan culture dating back from C. 2,000 to 1,700 B.C. at an ancient mound in Rohira Village, distinct Sangrur, Punjab. The remains of emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum) and fenugreek (Triginella foenum-grecum), both in the Mediterranean region and Central Asia, have been reported for the first time in the Harappan economy. The present finds further throw light on the crops cultivated by Harappans about 4,000 years age in the plains of Punjab in India.
Araucarioxylon kumarpurensis, a new gymnospermous wood from the Upper Permian of West Bengal
Authors: Bajpai Usha , Singh V.K.
Published: September 2022

The new species is identified after a study of ground thin sections and cellulose acetate paper peels prepared from a number of petrified wood pieces collected from Coal Seam IX, Raniganj Coalfield. The woods are mostly limonitic and usually very much crushed; however, at places, they show good preservation. The secondary xylem shows distinct annual rings, mostly uniseriate xylem rays and 1-2 seriate araucaroid pits on the radial walls of tracheids and 2-8 cupressoid pits in its cross-fields. The new species closely compares with Dadoxylon bengalense Holden which, however, is easily distinguished by a “mixed” type of radial pitting.
Revision and reasseessment of a dinoflagellate cyst assemblage from Sangchamalla Formation (Upper Flysch), Malla Johar area, Kumaon Himalaya, India
Authors: Jain K.P. , Garg Rahul
Published: September 2022

A dinoflagellate cyst assemblage described by Mehrotra and Sinha (1981) from Sangchamalla Formation (Upper Flysch) of Malla Johar area in the Tethyan zone of higher Kumaon Himalaya is critically re-evaluated.

The taxonomic revision of the assemblage on its face value indicates total absence of Areosphaeridium diktyoplokus (Klumpp) Eaton, A. arcuatum Eaton, Homotryblium tenuispinosum Davey & Williams, Hystrichokolpoma unispinum Williams & Downie, Diphyes colligerum (Deflandre & Cookson) Davey & Williams and Deflandrea speciosa Alberti based on which a Lower Tertiary age was assigned by Mehrotra and Sinha (1981). Instead, it is characterized by the predominance of Oligosphaeridium with the common occurrence of Coronifera, Gonyaulacysta, Hystrichosphaerina, Tityrosphaeridium and Cordosphaeridium. A new species, viz., Hystrichospheridium himalayaensis proposed by Mehrotra and Sinha (1981) is treated as a junior synonym of Oligosphaeridium complex (White) Daey & Williams.

The revised dinocysts assemblage is devoid of exclusive Tertiary taxa and indicates an Upper Cretaceous age. The possibility of Lower Cretaceous reworking in the ‘Upper Flysch’ assemblage is suggested. The occurrence of dinocysts in the deep oceanic environment of the ‘Upper Flysch' sediments is considered to be most probably due to transportation from shallower regions through sedimentary processes.
Mesozoic plant remains from Sarnu, Barmer District, Rajasthan
Authors: Banerji J. , Pal P.K.
Published: September 2022

The plant assemblage includes pteridophytic as well as gymnospermic remains. Amongst the pteridophytes Phlebopteris is common with rare presence of Cladophlebis, whereas, of the gymnosperms Otozamites is frequent with rare occurrence of Pachypteris, Pagiophyllum and Brachyphyllum. The assemblage is somewhat similar to the fossil assemblage of Pariwar Formation, Jaisalmer District. On the basis of plant assemblage an Upper Jurassic age has been suggested for the Samu Hill Formation.
A new fossil dicot wood from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mandla District, Madhya Pradesh
Authors: Mehrotra R.C.
Published: September 2022

A fossil dicotyledonous wood, Euphorioxylon deccanense sp. nov., of Sapindaceae has been described from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mehdwani, Mandla District. Small to medium sized vessels, scanty paratracheal parenchyma, almost exclusively uniseriate xylem rays and non-septate fibres are the diagnostic features of the fossil wood.
Palynology of the Barail (Oligocene) and Surma (Lower Miocene) sediments exposed along Sonapur-Badarpur Road Section, Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) and Cachar (Assam). Part - VI. Palynostratigraphic zonation
Authors: Saxena R.K. , Rao M.R. , Singh H.P.
Published: September 2022

Excellent exposures of Barail and Surma groups are developed along the Sonapur-Badarpur Road Section in Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) and Cachar (Assam). Frequency analysis and variation patterns observed in the palynoassemblage from these sediments provide ample evidence for their biostratigraphic zonation. On the basis of the first appearance, maximum development and decline of the various palynofossils, six cenozones have been recognized in the sequence. These are in ascending order: (i) Polysphaeridium subtile Cenozone, (ii) Todisporites major Cenozone, (iii) Lygodiumsporites eocenicus Cenozone, (iv) Striatriletes sinuosus Cenozone, (v) Pinuspollenites foveolatus Cenozone, and (vi) Malayaeaspora costata Cenozone. A formal description of each cenozone, as to their type section, lithology, thickness, nature of contacts, restricted and characteristic spore-pollen species and other salient features, if any, have also been given. The lateral extension of these cenozones has the potential for the correlation and demarcation of equivalent strata in other parts of this region.
Glossopteris shailae, a new fossil leaf from Upper Permian (Raniganj Formation) of India
Authors: Bajpai Usha
Published: September 2022

A new species of Glossopteris, i.e., G. Shailae is reported from the Kumarpur Sandstone (Raniganj Formation), West Bengal. Morphologically the leaf is characterised by an evanescent midrib. The cuticular structure of the leaf is also different from those of known species of the genus Glossopteris.
16th Birbal Sahni Memorial Lecture: Our oldest rocks and the early record of life
Authors: Radhakrishna B.P.
Published: September 2022

NA
Dr. G. Thanikaimoni (1938-1986)
Authors: Maheshwari H.K.
Published: September 2022

NA
Evolutionary trends in gymnospermous wood structures during Mesozoic - Protopinaceous woods in the German Jurassic
Authors: Mueller-Stoll Wolfgang R.
Published: September 2022

This paper contains the establishment of the opinion that in the German Jurassic the Protopinaceae against the modern pitted (abietoid) woods are not so frequent as hitherto supposed. According to our estimations, the relations between protopinaceous woods and modern pitted ones are different from those believed earlier.
Role of spore-pollen species in demarcating the Permo-Triassic boundary in Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal
Authors: Vijaya  , Tiwari R.S.
Published: September 2022

An attempt is made to delimit Permo-Triassic boundary in Raniganj Coalfield on the basis of selected palynofossils. Densipollenites invisus, D. indicus and D. densus decline while D. magnicorpus and Gondisporites raniganjensis disappear at the close of Raniganj Formation; Densoisporites contactus, Lundbladispora microconata, L. brevicula, Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Lunatisporites ovatus, L. diffusus and cf. L. pellucidus appear in Lower Panchet. Lithological and palynological changes at Raniganj/Panchet boundary help to draw the Permo-Triassic boundary at this level.
Late Precambrian microfossils from Deoban Limestone Formation, Lesser Himalaya, India
Authors: Shukla Manoj , Tewari V.C. , Yadav V.K.
Published: September 2022

A well-preserved microbiota consisting of filamentous Cyanobacteria, viz., Oscillatoriopsis, Cyanonema, Siphonophycus, Eomycetopsis, Gunflintia and Animikiea; spheroidal unicells, viz., Glenobotrydion, Globophycus, Sphaerophycus and Myxococcoides; Eubacteria, viz., Archaeotrichion, Biocatenoides; and acritarch (?plankton) Kildinosphaera, is described from petrographic thin sections of cherts from the Deoban Formation, Garhwal Lesser Himalaya. The assemblage has been compared with other authentic Proterozoic records. The palaeomicrobial community is interpreted to have inhabited a protected shallow intertidal environment.
Concepts, limits and extension of the Indian Gondwana - an introduction to the theme
Authors: Venkatachala B.S.
Published: September 2022

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Lower Gondwana marine incursions: periods and pathways
Authors: Venkatachala B.S. , Tiwari R.S.
Published: September 2022

Marine nature of sediments in the Talchir Formation and its equivalent horizons is well established by the occurrence of invertebrate faunas in Umaria, Manendragrah, Daltonganj, Rajhara, Ranjit Pebble Slate, Subansiri and Bap Boulder Bed. Most of these sediments also contain acritarchs, leiosphaerids and other palynofossils of marine origin in association with spores and pollen. The terrestrial palynofossil assemblage attributes an Early Permian age to these sequences, Leiosphaerids in the Karharbari and Barakar formations are, so far, known only in the Son Graben, indicating continuation of marginal marine environments. The discovery of phosphorite in the Barren Measures of Kelo River, Son Graben and palynofossils in these sediments confirm marine influence also in the Late Permian. Thus, the so far accepted model of predominantly continental facies for the Lower Gondwana stands challenged. It appears that during the Early Permian, almost all the low-lying embryonic basinal depressions experienced marine transgression from an eastern bay. To the west and northwest the network of marine pathways was connected with Arabian Sea and the Salt Range Sea. The evidences for continuation of marine transgression in the Middle and Late Permian of central India further demand a search for such signatures which could establish the remnant pathways to the heart of the peninsula. The marine leiosphaerid group of palynofossils can be purposefully utilized for Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.
Kamthi - a new concept
Authors: Pande B.C.
Published: September 2022

King has described ‘Kamthi beds’ as the group of rocks disconformably overlapping the Permian coal measures. In an otherwise extremely soil covered areas in the Wardha Godavari Graben. Some of the later workers while projecting on the surface the lithics encountered in the sub-surface drilling in the Godavari Valley Coalfield subdivided these beds into lower, middle and upper horizons, by considering them to have gradational contacts, to account for the biota revealed from these litho-units.

A reappraisal of the basic geoscientific database (geological and geophysical) and the interpretations from the surface and the sub-surface lithics have undisputedly shown that the pattern of Gondwana sedimentation in the Godavari Valley, during the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic periods, has been in an oscillating and continental fluvial regime governed by the basin configuration and palaeodrainage interrelated to their development in time and space.

The palynofossil content unequivocally proves the presence of the Upper Permian lithics lying buried under the Lower Triassic (Kamthi) sediments. The latter has a widespread expanse in the graben, from the northwest to the southeast which is believed to be due to the further deepening of the basin floor at the time of their sedimentation.

The possibility of Kamthi constituting the basal part of the enlarged Maleri sequence of the Triassic lithics is very much indicated thereby defining the base of the Triassic in the Godavari Graben. It is thus, considered undisputed that the Kamthi is nothing more than a concept in the geological history of this part of the Godavari Graben which is defined by its mode of occurrence as governed by the associated tectonism.
The Origin, rise and decline of Glossopteris Flora: with notes on its palaeogeographical northern boundary and age
Authors: Pant D.D.
Published: September 2022

In Africa impressions of two leaves of Gangamopteris were found below the glacial conglomerate and in Australia Gangamopteris and Schizoneura were found interbedded with the glacial beds at Bacchus Marsh. Microfossils, including pollen grains like those of the Glossopteris Flora, have been reported from the tillites, particularly from the Bacchus Marsh tillite. Similar microfossils have also been reported from the beds of the Talcher stage lying immediately above the glacial beds. All these fossils indicate that they were the pioneers of the Glossopteris flora which may have come into existence in unglaciated and protected locations of Gondwanaland during the Ice Age itself. The early elements of the Glossopteris Flora thus seem to have lived in a cold temperate climate alongside glaciers. The flora of this stage was relatively poor but as the climate warmed up the forests became richer and their plants more diversified. However, this flora was living in a climate where a cold winter alternated with a warm summer and it abounded in deciduous plants. The climax of the Gondwana vegetation was reached during the Raniganj stage when a much warmer and more humid climate supported a rich forest vegetation again abounding in deciduous trees. Thereafter, there was a sudden change of vegetation during the Triassic when the plants of the Glossopteris Flora yielded place to new elements of the Dicroidium Flora.

The disappearance of the Rhacopteris-Lepidodendropsis Flora with the onset of the glaciation during the Carboniferous-Permian times is easily understood but the sudden appearance of an entirely new Glossopteris Flora after, or even during the glaciation itself, and its almost simultaneous spread in all parts of Gondwanaland raise difficult questions about its origin and phylogeny. Besides dealing with the answers to these questions, the author discusses the factors and implications of the gradual decline of the Glossopteris Flora and the rise of the Dicroidium Flora during the Triassic. The estimates of the geological age and palaeogeographical limits of the Glossopteris Flora are also scrutinized in the light of recent work.
Palynology of Kamthi Formation in Godavari Graben
Authors: Srivastava S.C. , Jha Neerja
Published: September 2022

Five palynological assemblages have been recognized in the Kamthi Formation of Godavari Graben. The assemblages are characterized by overall abundance of striate disaccate pollen. The associated palynofossils, however, distinguish the palynoassemblages at various levels of the formation. The Lower Member containing coal seams shows unequivocal resemblance with the Raniganj palynoflora of Damodar Valley and Son Mahanadi coalfields District change in lithology at the beginning of the Middle member is marked by the appearance of Parasaccites rich assemblage simulating a cooling phase akin to that observed during the Talchir period. The younger sediments of the Middle Member contain Corisaccites Guttulapollenites Assemblage and Densipollenites Assemblage in order of succession representing the uppermost Permian palynoflora in Godavari Graben. The youngest assemblage also indicates close proximity to the Permian Triassic, thus making the Kamthi Formation a time transgressive unit.
Some new genera of Triassic seeds
Authors: Manik S.R.
Published: September 2022

Cuticular studies of compressed seeds from the Triassic sediments of Nidpur, Sidhi District, Madhya Pradesh have revealed the presence of five new genera, viz., Savitrispermum, Nidispermum, Rotundaspermum, Pyriformispermum and Pantiaspermum. The seeds exhibit affinities with Pteridospermales and Cycadales.
Study of amino acids in petrified plants from the Rajmahal Hills
Authors: Sharma B.D. , Harsh R.
Published: September 2022

Chemistry of fossil plants collected from the Rajmahal Hills, Bihar (India) is studied. Amino acids extracted from the petrified woods, rachides and fructifications are identified with the help of paper chromatography. Implications of the chemical study of fossil plants in relation to taxonomy and evolution are discussed.
Indian Gondwana Plate margin and its evolutionary history
Authors: Mitra N.D.
Published: September 2022

The outline of Indian Plate in the Gondwanaland Plate mosaic has been reconstructed. The basic premise for the reconstruction lies in the identification of the suture zone along Indus-Yarlung tectonic zone and Indo-Burman range, both of which are wreathed with ophiolite complexes. The north eastern margin of the Indian part of the Gondwana Plate, which was ill-defined in many earlier reconstructions, is now more precisely delineated with the find of slide-generated olistostrom bodies representing plate marginal trench setting around Ukhrul-Paoyi-Kiphire area of the ophiolite belt of Manipur-Nagaland. The recent report of continental Gondwanas close to this suture zone lends credence to this palaeogeographic reconstruction. On the north, the continental sediments having distinct Gondwana entity rarely extend to the Tethyan basin and as such the Indus-Yarlung Suture truly delimits the Gondwana Plate domain. The Himalayan front is regarded as Tethys-facing margin of the Gondwana continent. Along the eastern margin of Indian Plate, rifting as a sequel to ocean floor spreading led to the evolution of coastal troughs of Cauvery, Palar, Godavari-Krishna and Athgarh which bears records of marine transgressions during Aptian-Albian time from a juvenile Indian Ocean. These oceanward tilted troughs may represents the rifted arm of a triple junction formed during the continental fragmentation. The discovery of such troughs in the Upper Assam and Bengal Basin suggests that the separation of India from Eastern Gondwanaland occurred in a NE-SW direction. The Cambay and the Kutch basins document similar evolutionary history along the western margin of the Indian Plate. As a consequence of crustal tension accompanying the fragmentation, the outpour of tholeiitic basalt took place in Rajmahal, Khasi-Garo-Mikir Hills and Upper Assam at 100-105 million years along the west coast. The earliest manifestation of volcanism has been recorded in Saurashtra which is considered to be contemporaneous with Rajmahal volcanicity. It is suggested that both the eastern and western margins of the Indian Gondwana Plate bear closely related records of fragmentation in the Early Cretaceous time.
Northern limits of the eastern Gondwana: palaeobotanical evidence
Authors: Maheshwari H.K. , Bajpai Usha
Published: September 2022

The northern margin of the Gondwanaland along the Indian block has been debated for some time now. According to the earlier view the northern margin ran along the Indus-Yarlung-Zangbo Suture. Newly acquired data has been interpreted to show that eastern Gondwana was much bigger than generally believed.

In the present work we analyze the floras that grew around the northern margin of the eastern Gondwana assembly to see if the distribution of plant fossils also provides supporting evidence for a ‘greater’ India. The floras that have been examined in the present synthesis originate in the Permian of New Guinea, Sumatra (Indonesia), Malaysia, Thailand, Tibet, Northern China, Kashmir (India), Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Turkey and Mesozoic of Ladakh (India), Bhutan and Nepal.

The analysis shows that though some of the floral assemblages contain certain elements that could be of Gondwana affinity yet the overall composition of almost all the floral assemblages, except the one from Kashmir, is basically Cathaysian. Whether these Cathaysian type floral assemblages occupied the northern margin of the eastern Gondwana or they flourished on the southern margin of Laurasia, or they grew all along the shores of the Tethys, has to be examined.

The latitudinal variation in vegetation, however, does not seem to explain the intermixing of elements of different floral provinces in the coastal vegetation on the two shores of a fairly wide, though shallow, Tethys as in Kashmir and in southern Tibet. Even if both these regions were on the same side of Tethys, intermixing of Gondwana and Cathaysia floras is not explained as no direct migratory routes from Laurasia are available in Gondwana assemblies.

This coupled with the occurrence of northern Mesozoic flora at Fukche, Ladakh, and near Lhasa indicates that the Indian Gondwana did not extend north of the Indus-Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone.
Venation pattern in the sphenophyll Trizygia speciosa Royle from the Raniganj Formation
Authors: Maheshwari H.K. , Singh V.K. , Bajpai Usha
Published: September 2022

There has been a running controversy about the independent taxonomic status of the genus Trizygia vis-a·vis Sphenophyllum. The basic organization of the foliage shoot in both genera is apparently similar, except for the trizygoid leaf whorls in the former. The trizygoid leaf whorls are, however, not unknown in Sphenophyllum. The two genera cannot be compared at the level of the anatomy of the axes or the organization of the fertile shoot as this information is not available for Trizygia. The venation pattern in leaves of Trizygia has been analysed in detail with a view to comparing it with that of Sphenophyllum, when that information is forthcoming. The parameters chosen for analysis include length, width and area-index of leaves and number of dichotomies, ultimates and dichotomy levels.
Chitinozoa-like remains from Vindhyan Supergroup of Son Valley
Authors: Maithy P.K. , Babu Rupendra
Published: September 2022

Chitinozoa like remains have been recorded from the Arangi Formation and Markundi Quartzite of Vindhyan Supergroup exposed near Dala and Agori villages in Son Valley, Mirzapur District. These remains closely resemble Melanocyrillium fimbriatum Bloeser, M. hexodiadema Bloeser, M. horodyskii Bloeser and Melanocyrillium sp. A preliminary analysis of their distribution in the strata shows that they may be morphologically diversified in the younger horizons.
Occurance of Bischofia and antiaris in namasang beds (miocene-Pliocene) near Deomali, Arunachal Pradesh, with remarks on the identification of fossil woods referred to Bischofia
Authors: Awasthi N.
Published: September 2022

Two fossil woods resembling those of Bischofia and Antiaris belonging to the family Bischofiaceae and Moraceae, respectively, are described from the Namsang beds near Deomali, Arunachal Pradesh. A critical assessment of the structural details of the fossil woods referred earlier to as Bischofia has revealed that they are quite different from that of Bischofia.
Ancorisporites venkatachalae sp. nov. from the lower permian of Bihar, India
Authors: Maheshwari H.K. , Tiwari Rajni
Published: September 2022

The diagnosis of the genus Ancorisporites is emended to include megaspores without cushions on their mesosporia. The new species recorded from the Karharbari Formation is diagnosed by anchor-shaped appendages all over the exosporium and a characteristic mesosporium with numerous cushions trigonally arranged around the triradiate mark.
Vegitational history and palaeoenvironment of Hirpur Locality-I, Lower Karewa, Kashmir
Authors: Gupta H.P. , Sharma Chhaya
Published: September 2022

The present palynostratigraphical studies carried out on the exposed sediments of Hirpur Locality-I, lying under the earlier worked out Hirpur Locality-III, has revealed continued dominance of arboreal elements in the sequence depicting comparative preponderance of spruce and oak, although showing abrupt change in their values. The palynodata thus obtained has been interpreted to reconstruct the palaeovegetation pattern and to deduce the possible climatic fluctuation witnessed during the course of sedimentation of the 40 m thick lithocolumn. The pollen diagram has been divided into four pollen assemblage zones.
Canarium palaeoluzonicum, a new fossil wood from the Neogene of Kerala with remarks on the nomenclature of fossil woods of Burseraceae
Authors: Awasthi N. , Srivastava Rashmi
Published: September 2022

A carbonised wood is described from the Neogene sediments (Varkala beds) of Varkala Coast, Kerala. It shows close resemblance with the wood of a Philippine species of Canarium, C. luzonicum of Burseraceae, particularly in having 1-2 horizontal gum canals in multiseriate rays. The carbonised wood is named as Canarium palaeoluzonicum sp. nov. Its presence along with some other Malaysian elements in the Neogene sediments of Kerala Coast suggests a phytogeographic link of the Indian subcontinent with south-east Asia during the Miocene-Pliocene. The problem of nomenclature of fossil woods of Burseraceae is also discussed.
Leaf cuticles from the neyveli lignite of India
Authors: Verma C.L. , Upadhyay Urmilla , Srivastava R.K.
Published: September 2022

The paper reports some leaf remains from the Neyveli lignite of South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu. The fossil cuticles resemble cuticles of extant Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae), Cryptostegia (Asclepiadaceae) and Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae).
Palynostratigraphy of lower Gondwana sediments in Godawari graben, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Srivastava S.C. , Jha Neerja
Published: September 2022

The subsurface Lower Gondwana sediments in Ramagundam and Ramakrishnapuram areas of Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh comprise Talchir to Barren Measures formations present in two bore-holes, viz., GRK I and GGK 20. The distribution of palynofossils in time and space suggests the occurrence of six palynozones: Palynozone 1marked by the dominance of radial monosaccates (chiefly Parasaccites) representing the Talchir mioflora; Palynozone 2-characterised by the incoming of Callumispora in addition to radial monosaccates representing Lower Karharbari mioflora; Palynozone 3-representing the Upper Karharbari mioflora marked by the dominance of radial monosaccates associated with low nonstriate-disaccates; Palynozone 4-nonstriate-disaccates (chiefly Scheuringipollenites) attaining overall dominance representing the Lower Barakar palynoflora and containing the productive coal seams of the area; Palynozone 5- striate-disaccate pollen (chiefly Faunipollenites) attaining overall dominance and representing the Upper Barakar palynoflora; Palynozone 6-characterised by the association of srriate-disaccate pollen and Densipollenites representing the youngest assemblage in the present investigation. These assemblages have been compared with known palynofloras. The existence of Karharbari and Barren Measures formations in Ramagundam and Ramakrishnapuram areas has been established with palynological evidence.
Palynological investigation of palaeocene sediments from Thanjinath, Meghalaya
Authors: Mandal J.P.
Published: September 2022

Palynofloral investigation of the Palaeocene sediments exposed near the Village Thanjinath, Meghalaya reveals that pteridophytic spores are dominant in the lower seam while angiospermous pollen increases gradually towards the upper seam. No cenozone has been recognised in the assemblage as the change of palynofloral constituents in different seams are gradual. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of the assemblage, depositional environment and regional correlation on the basis of palynofossils have also been discussed.
Metaphyte and metazoan remains from the Indian Proterozoic successions
Authors: Maithy P.K.
Published: September 2022

Evidences for the metaphyte and metazoan remains from the Indian Proterozoic are discussed. Two distinct macroscopic biota assemblages are described. The older macroscopic biota is from Middle Proterozoic and consists of planktonic and benthic metaphytes belonging to Chuarid, Tawuid, Krishnanid, Vendotaenid, and Frondoid forms. Uptill now distinct metazoan evidence from Middle Proterozoic (800 - 1,000 Ma) was doubtful. The previous records of jelly fishes are debated and considered here to be the encystment structures. The younger macrobiota, the Ediacaran fauna, are being reported for the first time from the youngest bed of the Vindhyan sequence. The remains of coelenterates and annelids are morphologically alike to the Lower Palaeozoic forms. The records of macroscopic biota indicate that morphological diversification started right from the Middle Proterozoic time.
Permian-Triassic palynofloral transition in Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Srivastava S.C. , Jha Neerja
Published: September 2022

Palynological investigation of bore-hole GAM 7 from Mailaram area (Paloncha neck) in Godavari Graben has revealed five assemblages. Assemblages I to IV represents late Permian being dominant in striate disaccate pollen. Assemblage V denotes an Early Triassic age in view of the preponderance of Lunatisporites pellucidus and Verrucosisporites. The changeover from striate-disaccate to taeniate phase is quick and sharp indicating a palynological break. The transition from Permian to Triassic in this part of Godavari graben occurs in a paraconformable. The Permian- Triassic boundary passes within a gap of 12 m and a definite presence of Panchet palynoflora is established.
Morphology of Bennettitalean fructifications
Authors: Sharma B.D.
Published: September 2022

The Bennettitales dominated the vegetation throughout the world during Mesozoic Era. In external morphology they were cycad-like, but had distinct type of fertile parts. Fructifications were monosporangiate or bisporangiate. In seed-bearing fructifications a compact layer of fertile and sterile scales surrounded the conical/hemispherical receptacle. On the basis of ontogeny and anatomy, both types of scales are described as appendicular structures and derived the fructification from Cordaianthus. Bisexual fructifications resemble  cycadeoideas. Male fructifications are unique and can be correlated neither with any known extinct nor extant plant. Bennettitales originated independently from protoseminales, a plexus which also gave rise to cordaitales and pteridosperms, Bennettitales ended abruptly.
Cauveridinium, a new Gv-type dinoflagellate cyst from Trichinopoly Formation, Cauvery Basin, India
Authors: Khowaja-Ateequzzaman  , Jain K.P.
Published: September 2022

Some lenticular dinoflagellate cysts with process ornamentation restricted to circumferential border zone, characterized by proximal process connections through ridges, have been recovered from the limestone unit of Trichinopoly Formation, Cauvery Basin. These Gv-cysts have been described under a new genus, Cauveridinium. Three new species, viz., C. indicum, C. intermedium and C. longispinosum, are proposed. A detailed comparison with other Gv-cyst taxa has been attempted.
Arecoidocarpon kulkarnii gen. et sp. nov., an arecoid palm fruit from Mohgaon Kalan, Madhya Prasesh
Authors: Bonde S.D.
Published: September 2022

The paper describes a petrified palm fruit embedded in a chert from Mohgaonkalan, District Chhindwada, Madhya Pradesh. lt is a single-seeded, ovoid drupe, whose wall is characterized by a thin epicarp, fibrous mesocarp and hard endocarp Fibre-fibrovascular bundles and brachysclereides are restricted to the inner layers of the pericarp. Elldosperm is homogeneous, covered with two-layered seed coat, the outer one with reduced vascular strands and inner with tanniniferous material. Embryo is apical and a shallow chalazal groove is protruding in the seed. Its affinity is suggested with non-ruminate arecoid palms.
Palynological investigation of the Ratnagiri beds of Sindhu Durg District, Maharashtra
Authors: Saxena R.K. , Misra N.K.
Published: September 2022

A palynological assemblage consisting of 60 genera and 95 species has been recovered from the Ratnagiri beds of Sindhu Durg District, Maharashtra. Quantitatively, pteridopytic spores and fungal remains are dominant, sharing 44 and 40 percent of the total assemblage respectively. These are followed by angiospermous pollen (16%). On the basis of comparative morphology, the palynofossils have been assigned affinities to extant genera or families. The present day distribution of such taxa suggests a tropical-subtropical climate (warm-humid) with plenty of rainfall. The environment of deposition has been interpreted as near-shore with sufficient fresh water supply.
Some fossil woods from Tipam Sandstone of Assam and Nagaland
Authors: Awasthi N. , Mehrotra R.C.
Published: September 2022

The paper records four fossil woods, viz., Koompassioxylon elegans Kramer, Baubinia tertiara sp. nov., Bischofia palaeojavanica Awasthi and Laurinoxylon naginimariense sp. nov. from the Tipam sandstone of Assam and Nagaland. These show close resemblance with the woods of extant genera, viz., Koompassia, Baubinia, Bischofia and Lauraceae, respectively. Occurrence of Koompassia in the Indian and southeast Asian Neogene sediments provides further evidence of a close phytogeographical link between Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Litho- and biostratigraphy of the Siwalik succession in Surai Khola area, Nepal
Authors: Corvinus G.
Published: September 2022

The Surai Khola succession of Siwalik sediments comprises an uninterrupted body of molasse sediments of a thickness of 5,500 m, which have been divided into six lithological units. The sequence has yielded abundant Vertebrate and in Vertebrate fossils, particularly of mammals. These indicate that the Lower part of the Surai Khola succession belongs to the Chinji zone of the Lower Siwalik, while the rich fauna of the upper beds belong to the Tatrot and Pinjor faunal zones of the Upper Siwalik. Apart from the mammalian fauna, a wealth of plant fossils has come to light, particularly from the lower and middle part of the sequence. The finer clastic throughout the sequence yielded palynofossils.
Palaeomangroves of Kanara coast, Karnataka, India and their implications on Late Pleistocene sea-level changes
Authors: Caratini C. , Delibrias G. , Rajagopalan G.
Published: September 2022

Along the Kanara coast, some wells, show an organic clay layer, 1.5 to 7 m thick, between a layer of 2 to 6 m of coarse yellow sand above and white sand and pebbles below. The altitude of this intermediate organic clay formation is more or less at the present mean sea-level. Palynological analyses reveal that this sediment had been deposited within a mangrove environment i.e. at sea-level, while the 14 C datings give ages older than 40,000 years B. P. No proof of vertical movements after the deposit of the intermediate organic clay formation has been put forward up to now. Therefore, it can be accepted that the present elevation of this formation is more or less the same as its original altitude i.e., the present sea-level. Comparison of this altitude with the curves of global sea-level changes indicates that the period of deposition of these organic sediments should be around 125,000 years B.P., during the last Interglacial (Eemian) when the sea-level was ± the same that it is today. The main characteristics of “Eemian” flora were the same as the present. The climatic regime may have been slightly different with the less contrasting season.
Early Cretaceous angiospermous pollen from the intertrappean beds of Rajmahal basin, Bihar
Authors: Tripathi Archana , Tiwari R.S.
Published: September 2022

Palynological succession representing Permian to Early Cretaceous sequence through bore-hole no. RJNE-32 drilled (near Mirzachowki) in Rajmahal Basin revealed that the angiospermous pollen make their first appearance in the first intertrappean bed. These forms are assigned to Retimonocolpites peroreticulatus, Aff. Clavatipollenites sp. 1, cf. Stephanocolpites sp., Retimonocolpites sp., Liliacidites sp. and cf. Stellatopollis sp. They are associated with the typical Early Cretaceous palynoassemblage. This is the first record of Early Cretaceous reticulate monosulcate and colpoidate angiospermous pollen from India.
Palaeoflora of southern Africa Molteno Formation (Triassic) Volume 2, Gymnospenns (excluding Dicroidium) by John M. Anderson and Heidi M. Anderson, A. A. Balkema
Authors: Maheshwari H.K.
Published: September 2022

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