bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological Evolution of Indian Gondwana Megaspores
Authors: Tewari Rajni
Published: September 2022

The occurrence of abundant dispersed fossil megaspores in the Indian Gondwana sediments indicates the presence of heterosporous early lycopsid plants which are themselves uncommon. Study of megaspores is, hence, significant since it reflects on the evolution of early land plants. A variety of megaspores are recorded from various Gondwana basins of India. They are categorised on the basis of their shape, presence and absence of tri-radiate ridges and nature of exosporium and mesosporium. On the basis of their structural diversity, Permian megaspores show a distinct evolutionary trend. However, in the Mesozoic, no such trend is observed, probably because of paucity of megaspore records and also lack of complete information on mesosporium characters. A careful, detailed and comprehensive study is, therefore, required for a better understanding of the evolutionary trend of Mesozoic megaspores.
Some aspects of Palaeozoic pteridophytes of India: A critical reappraisal
Authors: Srivastava Pradeep Chandra
Published: September 2022

The present paper deals with spatial and temporal distribution of pteridophytic megafossils within Palaeozoic plant bearing horizons of India. An attempt has been made to describe the pteridophytic assemblages in various strata of different ages, dynamism of the relative dominance pattern of various types of pteridophytes within each assemblage vis-Ã -vis the environment they lived in. Critical discussion has been done regarding increasing diversity of Palaeozoic pteridophytic taxa, taxonomic riddles, plant architecture, ecological analysis and phylogenetic implications. Special attention has been given to the floristic regionalism of Lower Carboniferous flora of India in reference to the world palaeophytogeography and occurrence of admixture of Cathaysian, Euramerian and Gondwana pteridophytic elements in palaeoecotone zone near the northwestern boundary of Indian Gondwana Plate.
Angiospermous fossil leaves from the Siwalik foreland basins and their palaeoclimatic implications
Authors: Prasad Mahesh
Published: September 2022

The angiospermous fossil leaves so far recorded from the Siwalik foreland basins of India, Nepal and Bhutan have been analysed and an attempt has been made to deduce palaeoclimate and phytogeography of the region during Siwalik (Mio-Pliocene) Period. The physiognomic characters of the fossil leaves have been critically examined in order to infer the climate of the region. The leaf features that have used mainly an aid in determining past climate, are leaf margin, drip tips, leaf size and venation density. The dominance of entire margined species (about 92%) in the Siwalik leaf assemblage indicates the prevalence of tropical climate. The presence of conspicuous drip tips and other features like leaf size, leaf texture, nature of petiole and venation density collectively suggest tropical climate with heavy rainfall (MAT 28Â°-29Â° and MAP 308 mm) during Mio-Pliocene. Almost all the fossil leaves recovered from different fossil localities in the Himalayan foreland basins have been identified with the modern angiospermous taxa up to specific level. From the present day distribution of these comparable species it is evident that most of the comparable species of the fossil assemblage are not found at present in the foot hills and became extinct due to unfavourable climatic condition after Mio-Pliocene. Moreover, on the basis of habit and habitat of comparable taxa of angiospermous fossil leaves it has been concluded that the Siwalik flora consists of three types of constituents in the forest during the sedimentation of Siwalik foreland basins: (1) Evergreen (2) Evergreen and Moist deciduous (3) Mixed deciduous. The Siwalik leaf assemblage is dominated by evergreen constituents like dipterocarps, legumes and other associated taxa in contrast to mixed deciduous constituents of the present day floral assemblage of the regions. This is most probably due to post-Pliocene orogeny of the Himalaya which brought changes in the topography and climate and thus adversely affecting the vegetation scenario of the Himalayan foot hills.
New dimensions in palaeobotanical research: ultrastructural studies on plant fossils
Authors: Bajpai Usha
Published: September 2022

In recent years palaeobiology has developed from a primarily descriptive science into a technically advanced and intellectually attractive field, with ramifications applicable to phylogeny, evolution, taphonomy and palaeoclimate. A combination of light microscopy (LM) with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is often used in the study of fossilised organs and organelles. Details of the surface microtopography, which can be seen only through SEM provide evidence of taphonomic processes and influences. Ultrastructural investigation of palynofossils can help resolve a number of problems concerning the interpretation of morphology, development and biology of fossil spores and pollen, and provide new significant data about their systematics. Studies of fine structure of fossil plant cuticles can be help determine the degree of cuticle preservation and organisation of structural components, and interpret the physical environment in which the plants lived and thrived. Ultrastructural studies of fossil plant cuticle may also reveal the presence of delicate structures such as infection pegs formed as a result of fungal infection or changes in the ultrastructure of the cuticle proper due to fungal infection. SEM study of Late Cretaceous fusainised angiosperm flowers has enabled their identification in terms of modern orders and families, thus greatly improving our knowledge of angiosperm evolution and radiation. SEM study of fossil charcoals (fusain) is also useful in understanding the past role of wildfire and ancient fire-prone plant communities.
Shiva impact event and its implications for Deccan Volcanism and Dinosaur Extinction
Authors: Chatterjee Sankar , Rudra Dhiraj Kumar
Published: September 2022

We have identified a buried 500 km diameter Shiva structure on the western shelf of India as a possible impact crater that formed at the Cretaceous-Tertiary (KT) boundary time. The location of the Shiva crater was initially suggested between India-Seychelles block, when Seychelles was part of the Indian Plate at its western margin around 65 Ma. This work refines previous interpretations of the structure, morphology and the extent of the Shiva crater, which now appears to be located entirely on the Mumbai Offshore Basin encircling the Bombay High area. The Shiva crater is largely submerged on the passive western continental shelf and is buried by 7 km thick strata of post-impact Cenozoic sediments. It is the largest impact crater known on Earth, about 500 km diameter and is a rich source of oil and gas. It has the morphology of a complex peak ring structure with a multiring basin configuration, thus providing an ideal structural trap for petroleum entrapment. Four different ring structures have been identified, where the inner peak ring represents the central uplift of the Bombay High area with a core of Neoproterozoic granite basement. Inside the peak ring, a series of rugged mountainous peaks tower more than 7 km above the basin floor. We speculate that the Shiva bolide (~40 km diameter) crashed obliquely on the western continental shelf of India around 65 Ma, excavating the crater, shattering the lithosphere, initiated the rifting between India and the Seychelles and triggered the acceleration of the Indian Plate northward. The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary sections of India have yielded several proximal ejecta components linked to the Shiva event such as shocked quartz, spherules and glass shards and iridium-rich alkaline melt rocks. Other cosmic signatures at the KT boundary of India from the vapourized meteorite include iridium anomaly, natural fullerenes, nickelrich spinels and magnetic nanoparticles. Although the Reunion hotspot responsible for Deccan eruption was close to the Shiva crater in time and space, impact did not trigger the hotspot because the first phase of the Deccan volcanism preceded the Shiva impact by 400,000 years or more. Two large impacts such as Shiva and Chicxulub in quick succession on the antipodal position, in concert with Deccan eruption, would have devastating effects globally leading to climatic and environmental calamity that wiped out the dinosaurs and many other organisms at the KT boundary.
Problems and prospects of stable isotope applications to marine microfossils for palaeoceanography and palaeoclimate reconstruction
Authors: Tiwari Manish , Ramesh Rengaswamy
Published: September 2022

Stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon in marine microfossils (such as Foraminifera) have been extensively applied to reconstruct past oceanographic and climatologic conditions. But great care needs to be taken while interpreting the data, as there are many factors governing the isotopic composition of the shells of microfossils. This paper is an attempt to outline and elucidate these factors with special reference to the most widely used microfossil, viz. Foraminifera.
Mesoproterozoic silicified microbiotas of Russia and India's Characteristics and Contrasts
Authors: Sergeev Vladimir N. , Sharma Mukund , Shukla Yogmaya
Published: September 2022

The paper analyses eight silicified Mesoproterozoic microbiotas of peritidal and shallow subtidal settings from Siberia, Ural and India. These microbiotas, subdivided into three main types - Kotuikan, Satka and Kataskin-are characterized by different taxonomic composition of microfossils. Mat-building entophysalidacean algae Eoentophysalis, ellipsoidal akinetes of nostocalean cyanobacteria genus Archaeoellipsoides and spherical large planktic microfossils Myxococcoides grandis of uncertain affinities dominate the Kotuikan-type microbiotas, the short trichomes are a rare but a distinctive element of these assemblages. The Satka type microbiotas are dominated by mat-building hormogonian cyanobacteria of genus Siphonophycus and chroococcacean dwellers genera Gloeodiniopsis, Eosynechococcus, Sphaerophycus, whereas entophysalidacean cyanobacteria are conspicuously missing and akinetes of genus Archaeoellipsoides occur but never abundant. Besides, microbiotas of Satka type include morphologically simple remains of phytoplanktic eukaryotic microorganisms-sphaeromorphic acritarchs genera Satka, Pterospermopsimorpha, Granomarginata? and Leiosphaeridia. The late Mesoproterozoic Kataskin-type microbiotas contain mat-forming entophysalidacean, oscillatoriacean and nostocalean as well as mat-dwelling and planktic chroococcacean cyanobacteria, but the most typical feature of these microfossil assemblages is the presence of a stalked cyanobacterium, Polybessurus bipartitus.

Almost all-available data on relevant silicified Mesoproterozoic microbiotas from China, Greenland and North America have been analysed. Further different types of Mesoproterozoic silicified microbiotas have been compared with Palaeo- and Neoproterozoic microbiotas in cherts as well as with the assemblages of organic-walled microfossils throughout the world and explained differences and similarities in their composition. The analysis indicate that the Mesoproterozoic microbiotas have their own specific taxonomic composition and differ from the Palaeo- and Neoproterozoic microfossils occurring in the same and different palaeoenvironmental setting. The presence of newly evolved type of cyanobacteria, red algae and acanthomorphic acritarchs in the Kataskin-type microbiotas and contemporaneous open-shelf facies suggest that the terminal Mesoproterozoic can be separated as an independent biostratigraphical unit.
Musostrobocaulon skutchii gen. et sp. nov., a permineralized musaceous inflorescence axis from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan, India
Authors: Bonde S.D.
Published: September 2022

Musostrobocaulon skutchii gen. et sp. nov., is a complete inflorescence axis attached with a part of leaf sheath embedded in a chert matrix collected from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan, District Chhindwada, Madhya Pradesh, India. It has a cylindrical, 2.2 x 2.5 cm axis having thin cortex and wide vascular region indistinctly divisible into peripheral and central regions. Typical scitaminean or Musa-type of vascular bundles; large air canals bounded by uniseriate diaphragms; articulated laticifers and latex vessels suggest its affinity with Musa L. (Order-Zingiberales: Family-Musaceae).
A petrified bilocular dicotyledonous fruit from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Singhpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Bhowal Mousumi , Sheikh M.T.
Published: September 2022

A petrified bilocular fruit is described from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Singhpur (Lat.20Âº1' N; Long.70Âº1' E), situated about 3 km from the well-known locality Mohgaonkalan in Madhya Pradesh, India. The fruit is bilocular, sessile, and ovoid. Of the two locules, one is with a seed, the other is empty. There is an air chamber in the septa. Pericarp is well formed. Epicarp shows presence of lacunar fibrous bundles and towards the inner side parenchymatous tissue with empty raised cavities. Seed is single and bitegmic with ridges and furrows. Fruit shows loculicidal dehiscence. The fruit could not be assigned to any living family. Since it differs from the known fossil fruits, it is named as Bicarpelarocarpon singhpurii gen. et sp. nov.
Palynological investigations, facies analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretations from Late Palaeocene to Early Eocene lignites and associated sediments of Barmer, western India
Authors: Tripathi S.K.M. , Srivastava Divya
Published: September 2022

A lignite bearing sequence located in an open-cast mine near Banner, Rajasthan, western India, identified as Akli Formation is investigated for palynological and palynofacies studies. The palynoflora from about 13.5 mthick succession mainly comprised of clay, shale and lignite, composed of spore/pollen, dinoflagellate cysts and fungal remains, is dominated by angiospermic pollen particularly those showing affinity with the family Arecaceae. The succession, palynologically divisible into three zones, is dated as Thanetian to Ypresian in age. Studies on the dispersed organic matter isolated from macerated residues indicate prevalence of anoxic conditions during deposition of lower part of the sequence which progressively changed into moderately oxic depositional conditions.
Plant fossils of Maitur Formation: possibly the ultimate stage of Glossopteris flora in Raniganj Coalfield, India
Authors: Pal Pankaj K. , Srivastava A.K. , Ghosh Amit K.
Published: September 2022

The present paper deals with the plant megafossil assemblage from the Maitur Formation, the lower part of Panchet Group of rocks, unconformably overlain by coal bearing Raniganj Formation in Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal. The plant fossils are collected from two localities exposed in Nonia Nala Section near Asansol, Burdwan District, West Bengal. The assemblages are represented by the typical elements of Glossopteris flora, viz. Trizygia speciosa, Neomariopteris hughesii. N. lobifolia, Dichotomopteris lindleyii, D. ovata, Glossopteris indica, G. tenuifolia, G. emarginata, G. angustifolia. G conspicua, G. intermedia, G. retifera, G. gopadensis, G. taeniensis, Glossopteris sp. cf. G. dhenkanalensis, one new species G. burdwanensis sp. nov., glossopterid scale-leaves and seed-like body.

The age of Maitur Formation has been assigned to Early Triassic but the plant fossil assemblages are comparable with the Late Permian plant fossils of Kamthi, Pachhwara and Bijori formations in having narrow leaf forms of Glossopteris. The investigation supports the view that there is no floral break at the Raniganj-Panchet Boundary and flora of Maitur Formation in all probability represents the ultimate stage of Glossopteris flora in Raniganj Coalfield before the onset of Early Triassic Dicroidium flora in Deoli/Hirapur Formation belonging to upper part of Panchet Sequence in Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal.
Taeniopteroid leaves from Lower Gondwana formations of India
Authors: Srivastava A.K. , Agnihotri Deepa
Published: September 2022

Well preserved leaves discovered from the Early Permian sequence of Barakar Formation of Pench Valley Coalfield, Satpura Gondwana Basin demonstrate the earliest occurrence of taeniopteroid leaves in Lower Gondwana formations. Such leaves are mostly recorded from the Late Permian sequence of Raniganj Formation and assigned to different genera, Taeniopteris Brongniart, Macrotaeniopteris Schimper and Rhabdotaenia Pant. The review of all the known records, the examination of type and figured specimens and present study indicate that plausibly all the taeniopteroid leaves of Lower Gondwana belong to the genus Rhabdotaenia Pant (1958) and the species, Rhabdotaenia danaeoides (Royle) Pant, Rhabdotaenia harkini Pant and Rhabdotaenia fibrosa Pant are characterized by large sized leaves whereas new species Rhabdotaenia pantii sp. nov. is instituted for small size-obovate shaped leaves discovered from the New Sethia open cast mine of Pench Valley Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh.
Palynoflora recorded from Makardhokada area, Nagpur District, Maharashtra
Authors: Kalkar Surekha A. , Bhute Smita D. , Sarate Omprakash S.
Published: September 2022

Makardhokada area is located at a distance of about 7 km west of Umrer Mine, and as such represents the western extension of the Umrer Coalfield, Nagpur District, Maharashtra. Subsurface explorations for coal exploitation have revealed the existence of a number of coal seams in this area. Palynological investigations have been taken up on the sub-surface sediments collected from Bore Hole No. MR-157, drilled near Makardhokada Township, to understand the palynofloral contents of these sediments for palynodating. The palynoflora is characterized by the dominance of Striatopodocarpites followed by Faunipollenites, Lahirites, Arcuatipollenites, Rhizomaspora, Crescentipollenites, Verticipollenites, Navalesporites, etc. which suggests the existence of Late Permian sediments (=Raniganj Formation) in Makardhokada area.
Petrographic evaluation of the coal seams from Gundala area, Godavari Valley Coalfield, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Sarate Omprakash S. , Basava Chary M.
Published: September 2022

Gundala area represents the north-western extremity of Lingala-Koyagudem Coal Belt, Godavari Valley Coalfield. Andhra Pradesh. The sub-surface explorations from the virgin tracts of Gundala area revealed the existence often coal seams. Representative coal samples collected from seams III A, III (Top), III (Bottom), L-1, IV A, V(Top) and V(Bottom), pertaining to Bore Hole No. SGK-124 and III (Top), III (Bottom), L-1, IV A and V seams of Bore Hole No. SGK-128 have been critically analyzed for their maceral constitution and vitrinite reflectance measurements to understand the quality, rank, depositional environment, besides the economic and coal bed methane potentialities.

Based on the ternary mineral matter free (m. m. f.) maceral plotting, it has been inferred that, various coal seams intersected in Gundala area, in general contain mixed type of coal, barring V Top (Bore hole No. SGK-124) and III Top (Bore hole No. SGK-128) seams, which contain vitric type of coal. However, liptinite rich coal has been recorded from III Bottom seam of Bore Hole No. SGK-124. The vitrinite reflectance (Ro max %) has been recorded between 0.47 and 0.60%, which suggests that the coal has attained high volatile bituminous C stage of rank. Existence of low (8 to 21 %) frequency of mineral matter indicates the better quality of coal, which may find its commercial utility. The maceral constitution suggests that the coal deposits of this basin have evolved with prolonged spell of cold climatic condition, besides a few dry oxidizing spells. The slowly sinking basin has received continuous input of vegetal resource. The facies model based on maceral and mineral matter contents of these coals have shown the development of alternate oxic and anoxic moor at the depositional site.
Palynostratigraphy, dating and correlation of coal bearing and associated sediments in Mamakannu area, Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Jha Neerja , Aggarwal Neha
Published: September 2022

Palynological investigations carried out in Bore core MMK-19 from Mamakannu area, Lingala-Koyagudem coal belt, Godavari sub-basin have revealed presence of five distinct palynoassemblages. The oldest Palynoassemblage-I is demarcated by the dominance of Callumispora with monosaccate pollen taxa Parasaccites. Palynoassemblage-II is characterised by dominance of monosaccate Parasaccites and non-striate disaccate Scheuringipollenites along with striate disaccates chiefly, Striatopodocarpites and Faunipollenites. Palynoassemblage-III shows dominance of non-striate disaccates, viz. Scheuringipollenites and Ibisporites along with subdominance of striate disaccates, viz. Striatopodocarpites and Faunipollenites. Early Permian age has been assigned to Palynoassemblage-I, II and III belonging to Lower Karharbari, Upper Karharbari and Barakar respectively. Palynoassemblage IV is exemplified by dominance of Faunipollenites and Striatopodocarpites along with striate disaccate Crescentipollenites and monosaccate taxa Parasaccites. Youngest palynoassemblage, i.e. Palynoassemblage-V is demarcated by the dominance of Crescentipollenites alongwith sub dominance of Faunipollenites and Striatopodocarpites. Late Permian (Raniganj Formation) age has been assigned to Palynoassemblage-IV and Palynoassemblage-V. These two palynoassemblages also show the appearance of some younger forms, viz. Lundbladispora, Falcisporites, Playfordiaspora and Densoisporites which are significant taxa of Early Triassic. Presence of Parasaccites in high percentage alongwith striate disaccates in Palynoassemblage-IV suggests that the climate towards the end of the Permian time tended to become colder. This evidence supports the contention of a third glacial phase during Late Permian/Early Triassic time. The presence of the Lower Raniganj palynoflora has been demarcated in lithologically designated Barren Measures Formation.
Fossil wood of Bischofia palaeojavanica Awasthi from the Eocene of the Changchang Formation of Hainan Island, China
Authors: Mehrotra R.C. , Yao Yi-Feng , Li Cheng-Sen
Published: September 2022

A fossil wood of Bischofia palaeojavanica Awasthi resembling the extant Bischofia javanica Blume of the family Euphorbiaceae, is described from the Eocene sediments of the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, China. The fossil not only forms the first record of Bischofia from the basin, but is also the earliest from China. Its presence indicates the occurrence of humid valley forests in the region during the deposition of the sediments.
Fossil dicotyledonous woods from Deccan Intertrappean sediments of Ghansor, Seoni District, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Srivastava Rashmi
Published: September 2022

Anatomical details of three well preserved dicotyledonous woods resembling extant genera, viz. Dracontomelon Bl. (syn. Dracontomelum Bl.) of the family Anacardiaceae, Elaeocarpus Linn. of the Elaeocarpaceae, Euphoria Comm. ex Juss. - Litchi chinensis Sonn. - Otonephalium Radlk. (anatomically indistinguishable) of the Sapindaceae have been described from the Deccan Intertrappean sediments of Ghansor, Seoni District, Madhya Pradesh. The assemblage indicates occurrence of thick tropical vegetation at the time of deposition. These genera are presently found in natural association and are distributed in tropical wet-evergreen forests of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Assam, Sikkim, Bangladesh and Myanmar etc. Their presence signifies that the climate was tropical with plenty of rainfall during the period of deposition.
Platanoid infructescences Friisicarpus kubaensis sp. nov. and leaves Ettingshausenia kubaensis sp. nov. from the Albian-Cenomanian of Chulym-Yenisei depression, Russia
Authors: P. Maslova Natalia , Tekleva Maria V. , Sokolova Alexandra B. , Broushkin Anatoly B. , Gordenko Natalia V.
Published: September 2022

New species of an infructescence of Friisicarpus kubaensis N. Maslova, Tekleva & Sokolova and leaves of Ettingshausenia kubaensis N. Maslova & Sokolova, sp. nov. are described from the Albian-Cenomanian of Chulym-Yenisei depression, Russia. Similar epidermal characteristics and joint co-occurrence of the described infructescences and leaves imply that the leaves and infructescences belong to the same plant.
Modern pollen-vegetation relationship as an adjunct in the interpretation of fossil pollen records in the Chilka Lagoon, Odisha, India
Authors: Singh Shilpa , Scharf Burkhard W. , Khandelwal Asha , Mohanti Manmohan
Published: September 2022

In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to evaluate modern pollen- vegetation relationship in the surface sediments of the Chilka Lagoon, Odisha. The ecosystem of the Chilka Lagoon has remained unique throughout its existence and the data generated from the analysis of surface sediments can be used for the interpretation of palynological results in terms of past vegetation and climate around the Chilka Lagoon. The palynological investigations exhibited the dominance of midland taxa over the peripheral and fresh water taxa. The modern pollen-vegetation relationship as represented by the pollen spectra reflects the local and nearby vegetation in a consistent way. Core mangrove pollen grains were poorly registered in the pollen spectra as they are either absent or represented in a degraded form in the present vegetation scenario. However, good representation of grasses showed a more or less close coherence with their actual composition in the present vegetation cover.
First report of the plant fossils from the Manas National Park, Assam, India
Authors: Mehrotra R.C. , Basumatary S.K. , Bera S.K. , Srivastava Gaurav , Sarma G.C. , Baruah C.K.
Published: September 2022

Plant fossils, mainly leaf impressions, are described for the first time from the Tipam Group of rocks exposed at Subankhata Locality in Manas National Park in Baksa District of Assam. Two new fossil leaves showing affinities with Parashorea stellata Kurz and Shorea ovalis (Korth.) Bl. respectively of the family Dipterocarpaceae, along with a fern frond of Cyclosorus resembling C. proliferus (Retz.) Tard. and C. Chr. of the family Thelypteridaceae are described from the present assemblage. In addition, impressions of a monocot stem and a seed-like structure are also reported. These plant fossils indicate Middle-Late Miocene age and existence of rain forest in the region during the period of deposition of the rock successions.
Stratigraphic ranges of dinoflagellate cysts from Cretaceous petroliferous basins of India and Brazil
Authors: Mehrotra N.C. , Tewari Rajni , Arai Mitsuru , Garcia Maria Judite , Bernardes-de-Oliveira Mary E.C.
Published: September 2022

Development of dinoflagellate cyst studies in India and Brazil is directly related with the exploration of hydrocarbons. During the last 3 decades these studies have intensified in various petroliferous basins of the two countries. These have proved to be of immense value in high impact palynological studies as applied in geological modelling for exploration. Stratigraphic ranges of significant dinoflagellate taxa from the two countries have been analysed in global context and presented through 6 Range Tables. This is the first step to build comparative database of these fossils from India and Brazil for obtaining a better understanding of their distribution and application in petroleum industry.
Scale leaves from the Barakar Formation of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Srivastava A.K. , Agnihotri Deepa
Published: September 2022

Morphological and taxonomic features of dispersed sterile scale leaves collected from the Barakar Formation of Pench, Kanhan and Pathakhera coalfields of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh are described. The scale leaves are normally described as morphological types without their assignment to taxonomic status. Due to this practice, the identity and significance of the scale leaves have gone astray in the Glossopteris flora. The presence of large number of sterile scale leaves with different morphological features in the present assemblage has helped to discuss their structure, nature and affinity. The scale leaves have been assigned to different genera and species namely Pantolepis indica gen. et sp. nov., Penchiolepis gondwanensis gen. et sp. nov., Penchiolepis indica sp. nov., Surangelepis ambarai gen. et sp. nov., Surangelepis elongatus sp. nov. and Utkaliolepis indica Tiwari et al. 2009.
Sporophyll morphology and reconstruction of the heterosporous lycopod Tomiostrobus radiatus Neuburg emend. from the Lower Triassic of Siberia (Russia)
Authors: Naugolnykh Serge V.
Published: September 2022

The paper deals with the taxon Tomiostrobus radiatus Neuburg emend., a heterosporous isoetopsid lycopod from the Babiy Kamen Locality of Lower Triassic of Siberia (Russia). Morphological diversity of the T. radiatus sporophylls is described in detail. Interpretation of structure and function of the sporophylls, and analysis of their morphological peculiarities are given. Arguments for attributing the lycopod T. radiatus to the Isoetaceae family have been provided. The reconstruction of T. radiatus is proposed. Origin and evolution of the families Isoetaceae and Pleuromeiaceae are also discussed.
Vegetation history and monsoonal fluctuations during the last 12,500 years BP inferred from pollen record at Lower Subansiri Basin, Assam, Northeast India
Authors: Bera S.K. , Basumatary S.K.
Published: September 2022

A 120 cm sediment profile from 4.5 m deep exposed section of Lower Subansiri River Basin has been pollen analyzed to trace palaeovegetation and climate in relation to monsoonal activity since 12,500 years BP. The study has depicted the existence of tropical mixed tree–savannah type to tropical mixed deciduous type forest under four climatic regimes, viz. cold and dry to warm and relatively dry since 12,500 years BP followed by a palynologically barren zone indicating strong fluvial activity. Four sets of monsoon fluctuations, i.e. relatively low to considerably decline in monsoonal activities have been estimated by using pollen marker taxa during the period. The marker taxa signifying high monsoonal activity are – Dipterocarpaceae, Syzygium cumunii, Arecaceae and Moraceae. Melastoma malabathricum, the only taxa which is marked as low monsoonal activity and dry depositional environment. The consistent occurrences of high land taxa are suggestive of long distance pollen transport from higher elevation via strong wind and water source.
Two dicotyledonous woods from the late Neogene sediments of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Authors: Shukla Anumeha , Mehrotra R.C. , Guleria J.S.
Published: September 2022

Two fossil woods collected from the late Neogene sediments of Rajasthan show best resemblance to the modern genera Terminalia L. and Lagerstroemia L. of the families Combretaceae and Lythraceae, respectively. The fossils belong to the Shumar Formation of Jaisalmer Basin considered as Plio–Pleistocene in age. The habitats of the modern counterparts of the fossils indicate the prevalence of semi–evergreen to deciduous forests with warm and humid climatic conditions in the Jaisalmer District at the time of deposition of the sediments in contrast to the present day xeric vegetation with desertic conditions in the area.
First record of a lauraceous wood from the Palaeogene sediments of western India
Authors: Shukla Anumeha , Mehrotra R.C. , Guleria J.S.
Published: September 2022

A fossil wood of Lauraceae resembling those of the modern genera Cinnamomum Spreng. and Litsea Lam. is described from the Vagadkhol Formation of Bharuch District, Gujarat considered to be Palaeocene-Early Eocene in age. This is the first record of a fossil wood of this family from western India. In view of the meagre fossil records known from the Palaeogene sediments of western India, the present finding becomes important as it enriches the palaeofloristics. Its presence, along with the already described fossils indicates warm and humid conditions in the region during the depositional period in contrast to the present day dry climate.
Evidence of deterioration in phytodiversity of Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India based on palynological evidence
Authors: Bera S.K. , Basumatary S.K. , Gogoi R.
Published: September 2022

The pollen–spore assemblage and their preservation status study based on 25 surface samples from different sites of Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh is documented. The survey was based on 25 surface samples from different sites of the sanctuary with a view to assess actual status of pollen preservation. The pollen assemblage depicts predominance of the nonarboreals over arboreals which do not fully match the present vegetation of the sanctuary. However, the occurrence and relative abundance of both deciduous and wet evergreen forest complex though in low frequency are of great significance towards its existence. Arecaceae pollen probably belongs to Arenga and Livistona despite their absence in surrounding vegetation. The presence of cerealia and other cultural pollen, viz. Chenopodiaceae and Xanthium are suggestive of the anthropogenic activity in and around the study area. The enhanced fern allies especially Osmunda, Cheilanthes, Gleichenia, Dipteris and Pteris pentagyna are supposed to be of subtropical–temperate in origin coupled with fungal complex (Glomus, Xylaria and Microthyriaceae) indicate humid depositional environment in the basin. Prevalence of rich organic matters festooned with fungal remains may be attributed due to relatively higher rates of weathering and erosion of the hinterland influenced by enhanced SW monsoon during the time of deposition. The incidence of degraded palynomorphs indicates aerobic microbial diagenesis of rich organic debris during sedimentation. The overall palynological result hints a deteriorating scenario of wildlife sanctuaries and associated region in recent times.
Svalbardia from Givetian of Central Russia (Voronezh Region): leaf morphology and spores from sporangium
Authors: Jurina Aleftina L. , Raskatova Marina G.
Published: September 2022

The new combination Svalbardia furcihasta (Krassilov et al.) Jurina, comb. nov. from Givetian of Voronezh region of Central Russia is described. Micro–and megaspores isolated from the sporangia of this plant, along with the taxa of dispersed miospores are discussed. The characters which are important for species diagnosis of the genus Svalbardia are discussed and the stratigraphic position of certain species of Svalbardia is clarified.
Morphological variations and depositional processes of microforaminiferal linings in the early Tertiary sediments of northeastern and northwestern India
Authors: Monga Priyanka , Kumar Madhav , Joshi Yogesh
Published: September 2022

Microforaminiferal linings, the inner organic remnants of the benthic microforaminifera, occur frequently in the palaeopalynological preparations. The linings usually get buried in the organic rich shallow marine sediments and provide a useful data regarding their burial processes in the host sediments. The study presents records of microforaminiferal linings in the early Palaeogene subsurface of Upper Assam and lignite bearing sedimentary succession in the Cambay Basin, India, their morphology and depositional environments. The number of chambers and size of the linings categorize them into various morphological groups, viz. Uniserial type II, Biserial type II, Planispiral type II, Planispiral type III, Planispiral type IV, Trochospiral type I and Trochospiral type II of which two morphotypes, namely Planispiral type II and Trochospiral Type I are most common in the palynoassemblages. The study on microforaminiferal linings will delineate marine and terrestrial realms in the sequences where other palynoforms are not recovered and may facilitate better interpretation of the depositional environment. Morphological attributes of various microforaminiferal linings along with other palynomorphs, viz. spores, pollen grains, dinoflagellate cysts and fungal fruiting bodies indicate near shore, marine shelf depositional conditions of the studied sections.
A fossil wood of Gynocardia from the Valia Lignite Mine, Bharuch District, Gujarat
Authors: Shukla Anumeha , Singh Hukam , Mehrotra R.C.
Published: September 2022

The Valia Lignite Mine situated near Bharuch (Gujarat) is poorly explored as far as the animal and plant remains are concerned. In order to explore the mine for building the palaeofloristics and reconstruction of the palaeoenvironment, a few wood pieces were collected from there. Subsurface beds of the early Eocene (Cambay Shale Formation) age are exposed in this open cast mine. A new fossil wood, Gynocardia eocenica sp. nov., of the Achariaceae is described for the first time from there. Gynocardia is monotypic and found in evergreen rain forests of northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The occurrence of present fossil indicates that the genus was originated in India during the early Eocene when the climatic conditions were warm and humid. Later on, it became extinct from western India due to the presence of arid to semiarid conditions and confined to northeast India having the equable climate.
Pollen deposition pattern in Kathali wetland and its adjoining areas of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, northeast India
Authors: Basumatary S.K. , Tripathi Swati , Jalil Abdul , Rahman Azizur
Published: September 2022

This paper presents a palynological dataset on Kathali wetland and vicinity forest area to characterize the pollen depositional pattern in relation to existing vegetation. The overall palynodata is suggestive of the tropical deciduous forest admixture with the evergreen taxa which coheres with extant vegetation. Pollen clumping in the palynoassemblage was highly significant and suggests their local origin and entomophilous nature. The various pollen distributions were observed in continuation at study sites which confirmed that the pollen deposition pattern in wetland depends on parent plant growth, water level and surrounding vegetation. The main forest elements include Syzygium, Salmalia, Lagerstroemia, Duabanga and Barringtonia along with Impatiens in the palynoassemblage which strongly indicate the high rainfall in the region. Thus, the generated modern palynodata could be precisely utilized to reconstruct the palaeovegetation and past climate in relation to palaeomonsoonal activity through the pollen analysis of sedimentary core/profile from the region and its correlation with other tropical parts of India and Asia.
Late Permian palynoassemblage from Chalburdi area, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra
Authors: Murthy Srikanta , Sarate Omprakash S.
Published: September 2022

The study deals with the palynological dating and correlation of the sediments of Bore–hole No. CHB–5, Chalburdi area, Chandrapur District, Wardha Valley Coalfield, Maharashtra. Based upon the palynological studies, two distinct palynoassemblages have been identified; the first one at 57.00 m depth contains the dominance of an enveloping monosaccate genus Densipollenites along with striate bisaccate Striatopodocarpites and Faunipollenites. The stratigraphically significant palynotaxa include Crescentipollenites, Corisaccites, Klausipollenites, Alisporites, etc. The second palynoassemblage recorded at 51.00 m depth is characterised by the dominance of Faunipollenites followed by Densipollenites, Striatopodocarpites, Arcuatipollenites, Striatites, Microbaculispora, Microfoveolatispora and Scheuringipollenites. The recovered palynotaxa suggest that the sediments belong to the Late Permian Period.
Reappraisal of palaeofloristics of Himmatnagar Sandstone vis-à-vis palaeogeographic significance
Authors: Prakash Neeru , Das Neelam , Bhat Nishith Y. , Solanki Paras M.
Published: September 2022

The state of Gujarat physiographically comprises three distinct zones–the Gujarat Mainland, the Saurashtra and the Kachchh. The sedimentary deposits of Himmatnagar Sandstone (23°36'00": 72°57'45") are mainly exposed in Gujarat Mainland. Palaeobotanical study reveals occurrence of plant fossils Matonidium, Weichselia, Cladophlebis, Gleichenia, Sphenopteris, Dictyophyllum, Pachypteris, Pagiophyllum and Araucarites. Bennettitales are absent. Numerically pteridophytes are represented by 61%, pteridosperms are represented by 7% and cyacads are represented by 7% while conifers are represented by 24%.

The assemblage is compared and correlated with contemporaneous deposits in India and other Gondwanic continents and found that it is coeval to fossil floral assemblage of Dharangdhara Formation, (Saurashtra) and Bansa Formation of South Rewa (in central part of India) and Athgarh Formation on east–coast of India, in having common occurrence of Wealden frond Weichselia with dominance of pteridophytic fronds and conifers of family Araucariaceae. Due to common occurrence of pteridophytes and conifers (at generic level) the flora also resembles to Bluff flora of Alexander Island (Antarctica) and Barcó flora of Baqueró Formation of Patagonia (South America) indicating that the dispersal of biota might have taken place through Kerguelen Plateau or Gunners ridge via Antarctica.
The International Fossil Plant Names Index (IFPNI): A global registry of scientific names of fossil organisms started
Authors: Doweld Alexander B.
Published: September 2022

The International Fossil Plant Names Index (IFPNI) is a new global on–line data base [http://fossilplants.info/about] of fossil names of plants, algae, fungi, allied prokaryotic forms (formerly treated as algae and Сyanophyceae), algae–related protists and fossil microproblematica (so–called ‘ambiregnal’ organisms). IFPNI as a new platform provides an online, open–access, and community–generated registry of fossil plant nomenclature as a service to the global scientific community. One of the goals of the IFPNI was also to compile and maintain a comprehensive literature based record of these fossil scientific names and bank of author names in palaeobotany. IFPNI fulfils existed gap in modern systematic botany lacking comprehensive indices of fossil plant names.
Early Permian micro and megaspores from the Nand-Besur Block, Bandar Coalfield, Wardha Basin, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Murthy Srikanta , Sarate Omprakash S. , Pillai S. Suresh Kumar , Tewari Rajni
Published: September 2022

The sub–surface samples of bore core NP–75 drilled near Nand Village, a part of Nand–Besur Block of Bandar Coalfield, Wardha Basin, Maharashtra have yielded palynomorphs which include spores/pollen grains and megaspores. The pollen assemblage shows the dominance of the genus Scheuringipollenites and sub–dominance of Faunipollenites (=Protohaploxypinus) along with Caheniasaccites, Plicatipollenites, Potonieisporites, Barakarites, Arcuatipollenites, Striatopodocarpites, etc. Megaspores are represented by three genera and nine species comprising Bokarosporites rotundus, Bokarosporites sp., Jhariatriletes filiformis, Singhisporites baculatus, S. indica, S. nautiyalii, S. radialis, S. surangei and Singhisporites sp. The palynomorph assemblage indicates an early Permian age equivalent to the lower Barakar Formation.
Fossil fruit of Hibiscus esculentus L. of family Malvaceae from Deccan Intertrappean cherts of India
Authors: Kapgate V.D.
Published: September 2022

Malvaceous fossil fruit belonging to the genus Hibiscus esculentus L. is reported from the Deccan Intertrappean exposures of Mohgaonkalan, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, India. The fruit is characterized by pentalocular, pentangular, pentaribbed dicot five seeded capsule with loculicidal dehiscence.
Higher plants and miospore assemblage of Burtnieki Regional Stage (Givetian) of South Estonia
Authors: Jurina Aleftina L. , Raskatova M.G.
Published: September 2022

The flora of Joosu Quarry (Estonia) is additionally studied from the deposits of Abava Member of Givetian Burtnieki Regional Stage. Its systematic composition has been expanded to four species instead of the previously known single species. The predominance of representatives of Pseudosporochnus and presence of single lycopsid is reported. The diagnostic features of Pseudosporochnus species are revealed and the specific composition of this genus is inspected. Spores from sporangia of Pseudosporochnus for the first time along with the miospore assemblage from the deposits of Abava Member, containing plants are allocated and illustrated. The age of Abava Member deposits is determined by macroflora as the possible Lower Givetian. Dispersed miospores allowed us to take Abava Member to the Geminospora extensa (EX) Zone which corresponds to the modern view the lower and middle parts of Givetian.
Pollen-spore assemblages of the Navarro Group (Maastrichtian) of Texas, USA: biostratigraphical and palaeoecological significance
Authors: Kumar Arun
Published: September 2022

Diverse assemblages of spore–pollen floras are present in all formations in the Navarro Group (Maastrichtian) in outcrops of the Austin Section and the subsurface Frio Section. The stratigraphic ranges and relative abundance of spore, pollen, dinoflagellate cysts and acritarchs were used to establish four biozones (A, B, C and D). Biozone A corresponds to the undifferentiated Neylandville Marl–Nacatoch Sand Formation; Biozone B corresponds to the Corsicana Marl Formation; Biozone C corresponds to the lower half of the Kemp Clay Formation; and Biozone D corresponds to the upper half of the Kemp Clay Formation. Biozonal boundaries do not always correspond to formation boundaries. Biozones A, B, C and D of the Austin section are correlated with the subsurface Frio section. The zonal boundaries based on spore–pollen distribution in the Austin and the Frio sections correlate well with the timelines established in these two sections based on dinoflagellate cysts and acritarchs. All Navarro Group formations except the Olmos were deposited in marine environments ranging from intertidal to outer shelf. Olmos Formation sediments were deposited in a range of coastal terrestrial environments with occasional minor influences of the sea. Three transgressive phases (T1, T2 and T3) separated by four regressive phases (R1, R2, R3 and R4) are recognized. During the Maastrichtian the floral composition in Texas changed from predominantly pteridophytic and bryophytic in the early Maastrichtian to predominantly angiospermous flora in the middle and late Maastrichtian. Tropical to subtropical climates prevailed in Texas throughout the Maastrichtian but highland regions such as Llano Uplift and nearby Marathon and Arbuckle Mountains were cooler regions with a temperate to sub–temperate climate. The upper part of the Navarro Group records a gradual cooling trend suggested by the dominance of temperate angiosperm pollen taxa.
Ordovician land plants and fungi from Douglas Dam, Tennessee
Authors: Retallack Gregory J.
Published: September 2022

Ordovician land plants have long been suspected from indirect evidence of fossil spores, plant fragments, carbon isotopic studies, and paleosols, but now can be visualized from plant compressions in a Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian or 460 Ma) sinkhole at Douglas Dam, Tennessee, U. S. A. Five bryophyte clades and two fungal clades are represented: hornwort (Casterlorum crispum, new form genus and species), liverwort (Cestites mirabilis Caster & Brooks), balloonwort (Janegraya sibylla, new form genus and species), peat moss (Dollyphyton boucotii, new form genus and species), harsh moss (Edwardsiphyton ovatum, new form genus and species), endomycorrhiza (Palaeoglomus strotheri, new species) and lichen (Prototaxites honeggeri, new species). The Douglas Dam Lagerstätte is a benchmark assemblage of early plants and fungi on land. Ordovician plant diversity now supports the idea that life on land had increased terrestrial weathering to induce the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event in the sea and latest Ordovician (Hirnantian) glaciation.