bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the present status of coralline red alga Archaeolithothamnium Roth. from India
Authors: Ghosh A.K. , Maithy P.K.
Published: September 2022

During the last few years the studies on the extant and fossil algae by different palaeoalgologists have indicated that both the genera Archaeolithothamnium Rothpletz and Sporolithon Heydrich belonging to Corallinaceae of Rhodophyta are synonymous. According to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, Sporolithon has priority over Archaeolithothamnium. In the present paper classification, synonymy, nomenclature and priority of the taxa have been discussed and accordingly all the species of Archaeolithothamnium Roth, described so far from India have been transferred to Sporolithon Heydrich.
LM and SEM pollen studies in Indian Alangiaceae
Authors: Sharma Chhaya , Gupta Asha
Published: September 2022

The pollen grains of Indian Alangium Lam. Show interesting morphological features. In the present paper, the pollen of four species, viz., Alangium alpinum (Clarke) Smith, A. barbatum (R. Br.) Baill, ex Kuntze, A. chinense (Lour.) Harm. and A. salvifolium (L.) Wangerin have been studied under light and scanning electron microscopes. Alangium alpinum distributed in the eastern Himalaya, has 3-4 colporate pollen with characteristic striate sculptured exine. Whereas, A. chinense is distributed throughout the Himalaya as well as the plains has regulate-reticulate sculptured exine with aperture similar to A. alpinum, A. barbatum is sporadic in Assam and has 3-colporate pollen with faint striate sculpturing. A. salvifolium happens to be the most widely distributed species extending from Himalayan foothills to extreme south of the Indian Peninsula as well as Andaman Island and has 3-6 porate-porate-brevicolporate apertures. Pollen grains of A. salvifolium subsp. Sundanum (Miq.) Bloembergen show gemmate-granulate sculpturing whereas, in A. salvifolium subsp. Salvifolium (L.) Wangerin the sculpturing is regulate-verrucate-gemmate-granulate. SEM studies reveal secondary ornamentation in A. alpinum, A. barbatum and A. salvifolium and interesting variations in the orientation of muri in case of A. chinense.
Abiostratigraphic method based on a quantification of fossil tracheophyte characters - its application to the Lower Devonian Posongchong flora (Yunnan Province, China)
Authors: Gerrienne Philippe
Published: September 2022

The biostratigraphic method used here is based on a quantification of individual plant characters and not on determination of whole fossils. The method is as follows: (i) each biocharacter found at a given locality receives a score according to whether it is primitive or derived, so that the biocharacter score increases with increasing derivation; (ii) the biostratigraphic coefficients of well-dated localities are calculated, the biostratigraphic coefficient of a given plant locality being the mean of all the biocharacter scores; and (iii) the scores of these well-dated localities are used to build a reference scale to which localities under investigation will be compared. A detailed example is developed for Early Devonian times and the updated quantification table of Targrove (Wales) is presented. An application of the method to the Posongchong flora (Yunnan Province, China), including its quantification table, is also demonstrated. It suggests that the mean age of this flora might late Pragian (Lower Devonian). This is the first direct biostratigraphical dating of the Posongchong flora.
Evolutionary significance of the Late Devonian lycopsids of the northcentral America
Authors: Chitaley Shya
Published: September 2022

The paper focusses on the evolutionary characters revealed by the lycopsid axes and cones of North America. Highlighted especially are the specimens collected from the Late Devonian greyish-black shale of Greater Cleveland, Ohio and from the Late Devonian silty shale of Venango Formation in Erie County and Pennsylvania. Axes and cones are very large in dimensions comparable to those of Carboniferous. Dominance of many different kinds of lycopsids in the collection suggests that the coastal marshes of Late Devonian sea had forests of respectable size lycopsid trees. Clevelandodendron ohioensis, a slender, unbranched plant with an apical heterosporous cone and short, basal appendages, shows isotalean growth habit similar to a few Carboniferous genera and Triassic Pleuromeia-like forms. This, coupled with presence of Skilliostrobus-like cones from the Triassic of Australia and Tasmania, suggest lineage of Triassic lycopsids from the Late Devonian forms of the Cleveland Shale.
The Angara flora from north China
Authors: Benhong Huang
Published: September 2022

The Angara flora flourished in northern China during the Late Paleozoic and evolved and developed parallel to the Cathaysia flora in China from Carboniferous to Early Permian. Since Late Permian the two floras were mixed in a limited area around the border of the two phytogeographic regions.
The Early Jurassic flora and palaeoclimate in northeastern Sichuan, China
Authors: Qisheng Huang , Zongsheng Lu , Shengmei Lu
Published: September 2022

The present paper deals with the composition, features and the geological age of the flora from the Zhenzhuchong Formation, northeast of Sichuan Province. The plant fossils recovered include 95 species of 57 genera. This flora may be classified as: Ptilophyllum-Coniopteris assemblage of the Dictyophyllum-Clathropteris Series equivalent to the Pliensbachian-Aselian Stage. In this sense, the flora may be compared with that of the Thaumatopteris zone in Greenland and Sweden. The Jurassic palaeoclimate in the Sichuan Basin is studied on the evidence of sedimentary environment and coal-formation. It is concluded that an increase in humidity and decrease in temperature were favourable to the formation of coal.
Diversification and evolution of Early Cretaceous East Coast flora of India
Authors: Rajanikanth A.
Published: September 2022

The Early Cretaceous continental sediments in the East Coast of India are characterized by the Ptilophyllum flora. Interplay of tectonism and sedimentation caused plant fossil preservation in different unconnected paralic deposits distributed in Cauvery, Palar, Krishna-Godavari and Mahanadi basins and in the associated Pranhita-Godavari Graben. Plant megafossils assigned to pteridophytes, pteridosperms, cycadophytes, Taxales, Ginkgoales and Coniferales are variously distributed in these basins. Differential preservation of plant parts denotes an incomplete evolutionary pattern. Variation within the basinal flora reflects a localised aspect. Plant fossils preserved in the Cauvery, Palar, Krishna-Godavari and Mahanadi basins reflect a near shore continental sedimentary fill subjected to more dynamic events like marine transgression, which probably did not allow better preservation of plant fossils. Paucity of carbonised/silicified material, abundance of impressions of plant leaf fossils, scarcity of wood and reproductive parts indicate an unfavourable environment for plant fossil preservation in these pericratonic basins. Whereas in the associated Pranhita-Godavari Graben the plant fossils are better preserved in the sub-aerially exposed basinal areas away from the main coast-line. The Early Cretaceous flora of Cauvery, Palar and Krishna-Godavari basins dominated by cycadophytes suggests presence of seaward margins of fluviodeltaic palaeoenvironment. The pteridophyte dominant flora of Mahanadi Basin represents a decreasing marine influence contrary towards the south-eastwards. The evolution and diversification of the East Coast Early Cretaceous flora runs parallel to other intracratonic basinal flora. The uniformity in the floral component supports an equable climate. Conifers being the upland floral elements constitute chief components of intracratonic basinal flora. The fluviomarginal elements like cycadophytes predominate the pericratonic sedimentation with some upland near basinal taxa. Pteridosperms and Ginkgoales are scanty. Presence of leaves with entire margin indicates a favourable growth environment.
Origin of angiosperm characters
Authors: Krassilov Valentin A.
Published: September 2022

Models of origin for the typical angiosperm leaf, flower, stamen, pistil and double fertilization are based on evolutionary trends in proangiosperms. It is suggested that angiosperm organs are of chimeric origin, acquired by aggregation and fusion of progenitorial structures. These morphological processes might involve different proangiosperm lineages in unstable (ecotonal, tectonically active) environments. An advantage of early angiosperms in such environments might be due to extended evolutionary potentials of their chimeric organs capable of acquiring new functions related to entomophily and zoochory.
Status of Kamthi Formation: lithological and palaeobotanical evidences
Authors: Srivastava S.C. , Jha Neerja
Published: September 2022

On the basis of lithological, palynological and megafloral data the status of Kamthi Formation has been reviewed. Hitherto known Kamthi Formation which was said to be a time-transgressive unit (Permian-Triassic) actually represents a Triassic sequence overlying Permian sediments equivalent to Raniganj Formation. The presence of Permian taxa, viz., Glossopteris, Vertebraria and Phyllotheca in red claystone, ferruginous sandstone/shale unit (=Upper Member, Kamthi Formation) represent only the continuations of Permian taxa into the Triassic.
Post-Cretaceous record of larger foraminifera from the Shillong Plateau, India: an evidence of environmental recovery during Early Cenozoic
Authors: Jauhri A.K.
Published: September 2022

The Late and post-Cretaceous succession of larger benthic foraminifera and planktic microfossils from the Shillong Plateau indicates events of extinction and recovery of the biotic forms. These events are interpreted using a conceptual framework involving biological responses to environmental changes caused by eustatic and climatic variations. Stratigraphic distribution shows that the Late Maastrichtian larger benthic foraminiferal assemblage disappears earlier than the planktic microfossils at the boundary interval. After their last occurrence in the Upper Maastrichtian, the larger foraminifera reappears in the carbonates of the Lakadong Formation dated by Glomalveolina primaeva as the Thanetian (P4).

The event of the first appearance of larger foraminifera in the Shillong Plateau correlates with zone P4. When compared with other Tethyan sections (e.g., Mediterranean) where they start occurring in the strata equivalent to zone P3b, the event of their reappearance appears to be slightly delayed in the studied section. The P3b zone is the interval marked by the onsetting of habitable conditions on shelves (oligotrophic environments) and is followed by an interval (the equivalent of the P4 zone) of extensive carbonate generation, during which highly diversified larger foraminiferal assemblages evolve and become widely distributed. The Shillong assemblage, therefore, marks the phase of "expanded oligotrophy" in which recovery of carbonate platform environments occurred on a large scale on shallow neritic shelves.
Is it possible to demarcate floristically Pleistocene/Holocene transition in India?
Authors: Bhattacharya A. , Chaudhary Vadana
Published: September 2022

The data on the floristic change during transitional phase of Pleistocene and Holocene are scanty. Although shifting of glacial to nonglacial climate is considered elsewhere for the demarcation of Pleistocene/Holocene, it could not be observed in India except at the glaciated sites in the higher Himalayas. A major change can be traced in the nonglacial region due to the strengthening of monsoon associated with higher insolation largely around this transition. Replacement of steppe by savannah in Rajasthan, increase in mangrove taxa in Arabian Sea sediments, and a decline of grassland with Shola constituents in Nilgiris, all happened under climatic change from arid to warm moist around 11,000-9,000 B.P. In the Himalayan region, at the higher elevations replacement of alpine taxa by subalpine birch has been noted in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh during this transition, which is similar to Europe and North America where arctic elements are replaced by subarctic elements. However, in Ladakh, the trans-Himalayan region, this transition is characterised by the dominance of steppe taxa represented by Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia indicating aridity.
Vegetation and climate during Late Holocene in Garhwal Himalaya
Authors: Chauhan M.S. , Sharma Chhaya , Rajagopalan G.
Published: September 2022

Pollen analysis of a 5 metre deep profile from Chharaka Tal (Sat Tal) in Garhwal Himalaya has brought out that during 2800-1900 BP mixed conifer-broad leaved temperate forests comprising chiefly Pinus, Cedrus, Betula, Quercus associated with Abies, Alnus, Salix and Carpinus grew in the region under cool and moist conditions, Later on, during 1900-1200 BP the temperate forests continued but with reduced frequencies of Pinus, Betula, Quercus, Carpinus, Alnus; sedges, however, improved. This change in vegetation composition reflects the deterioration of the climate. The increase in frequencies of sedges indicates the transformation of the lake into a swamp. Subsequent to this period, the expansion of Pinus, Cedrus and Abies together with non-arboreal elements, viz., sedges, grasses, Artemisia, Ranunculaceae, etc. indicates further deterioration of climate.
Investigation on plant fossils from Seria Naka in the Himalayan foot-hills of Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Prasad M. , Antal J.S. , Tiwari V.D.
Published: September 2022

A floral assemblage consisting of leaf-impressions recovered from the Lower Siwalik sediments of Seria Naka, about 30 km north-west of Tulsipur town in Gonda District of Uttar Pradesh, India has been described and discussed in the present paper. The assemblage comprises 10 taxa belonging to seven dicotyledonous families - Anonaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Polygalaceae, Sapindaceae, Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae and Ebenaceae. An analysis of the floral assemblage with respect to the distribution pattern of modem equivalent taxa reveals the prevalence of warm and humid climates in the region during the deposition of these sediments. The fossil flora also indicates that tropical evergreen forests with few moist deciduous plants were flourishing around Seria Naka in the Himalayan foot-hills during Middle Miocene in contrast to the mixed deciduous type of present-day forests. Further, the presence of some Malayan elements like Goniothalamus meboldii, Mitrephora macrophylla and Nephelium glabrum is phytogeographically important supporting the view of the migration of some taxa from Southeast Asia to the Indian subcontinent during the Neogene.
Taphonomic constraints on preservation of cuticles in compression fossils: fungi induced ultrastructural changes in cuticular membranes
Authors: Bajpai Usha
Published: September 2022

A comparative investigation has been made of the ultrastructure of the cuticular membrane recovered from healthy and fungal-infected leaves of Thinnfeldia indica Feistmantel, a fossil taxon to understand the nature of changes brought about in the cuticular membrane by the fungi. In general, the structural configuration of both the cuticular membranes is similar. In the infected leaf, precursors of cutin accretions are irregularly present at the sub-cuticular surface. These accretions are interpreted as possible results of the breakdown of the cutin due to the secretion of an enzyme by the fungi infecting the leaf. It thus seems that the fungi, besides edaphic factors, do play a role in the break-down of the cutin and thus constrain the preservation of the cuticular membranes.
On a fossil wood from the Daru Formation (Permian) of Arunachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Bajpai Usha , Singh Trilochan
Published: September 2022

The paper records for the first time a silicified fossil wood from the Garu Formation (Early Permian) exposed in Arunachal Pradesh. The wood is characterised by the presence of distinct growth zones, endarch primary xylem and a single, large, circular to oval, irregularly oriented pit in the cross-field; these features are diagnostic of the genus Megaporoxylon. As the wood does not match with any of the known species of the genus, it is given a new name, Megaporoxylon maheshwarii sp. nov.
Maceral alginite in Indian coals and lignites: Its significance and influence
Authors: Misra B.K. , Singh B.D. , Singh Alpana
Published: September 2022

The lamellar algae (lamalginite) have been recognised in the Indian Permian Gondwana coal seams of Son, Rajmahal, Mahanadi and Godavari basins. Botryococcus occurs in the coals of above Gondwana basins as well as in the Tertiary coals of north-east India and in the Tertiary lignites of Cauvery and Kutch basins. Another alga, Pleurocapsa is known from the lignites of Kutch Basin, whereas, Tasmanites is present in the Tertiary coals from Meghalaya. The presence of alginite in the coals and lignites is helpful in resolving certain discrepancies of their interpreted behaviour on the basis of petrological and chemical data, especially the carbonization behaviour and bye-product yield. The abundance, type, developmental stages, and association of alginite with other macerals provide much information about the depositional environment of vegetal matter accumulation for coal and lignite formation than was previously possible to deduce.
Palynology of the Cretaceous-Tertiary transition in an Atlantic bore-core, off Senegal Coast, West Africa
Authors: Venkatachala B.S. , Kar R.K. , Rajanikanth A. , Ly. A.
Published: September 2022

Palynological investigations on the Cretaceous-Tertiary transition in the bore-hole no. CM 5 drilled in the Atlantic Ocean, off Senegal Coast, West Africa have been carried out. According to the stratigraphic data the top of the Maestrichtian is marked approximately at 952 m. The present study is aimed to detail out palynological data and correlate with stratigraphic information. Samples of the sediments between 1002-944 m levels have been investigated in detail. It is observed that palynological assemblage recovered from sediments at 1002-958 m show an almost uniform distribution of taxa. Significant Maestrichtian marker taxa namely Diporoconia iszkazentgyoergyi, Ariadnaesporites ariadnae, Gabonisporites vigourouxii, Periretisyncolpites magnosagenatus, Tercissus grandis, Longapertites marginatus etc., are recorded. These marker taxa disappear at 958 m level and an abundance of pteridophytic spores is noticed. Thus a major change in floral composition is recorded at this level marking K/T transition, which is characterised by the disappearance of Maestrichtian marker taxa and presence of a fern-spike. Such major floral change is attributed to possible influence of K/T events.
Study on plant fossils from the Siwalik sediments of Far Western Nepal
Authors: Prasad M. , Pradhan U.M.S.
Published: September 2022

Study on the plant megafossils comprising well preserved leaves from the Siwalik sediments of Bardiya and Surkhet area in the Himalayan foot-hills of Far Western Nepal has been done. The leaf-impressions described here represent the first collection from the Siwalik sediments of Babai and Surkhet valleys. The leaves show closest affinity with six extant taxa belonging to the families Poaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Ampelidaceae, Myrsinaceae and Ebenaceae. The present day distribution of their modern equivalent taxa indicates a phytogeographical link between Nepal and the South East Asian countries during the Siwalik Period. The physiognomic characters of the fossil leaves and the habit and habitat of the extant comparable taxa suggest that a warm humid climate with plenty of rainfall prevailed in this region during the deposition of Siwalik sediments.
Conference Reports
Authors: Guleria J.S.
Published: September 2022

NA
Late Barakar flora from the Chaturdhara Nala section, Ib-River Coalfield, Sundargarh, Orissa, India
Authors: Meena K.L.
Published: September 2022

The Chaturdhara Nala section is located on the north-western side of Gopalpur Village, Sundargarh District, Orissa. The surface palynological investigation found the samples collected from the Chaturdhara Nala section near the junction of Basundhara Nala section. In the present occurrence Faunipollenites and Striatopodocarpites prominance and followed by Rhizomaspora, Scheuringipollenites, Distriatites,Cyclogranisporites, Cyclobaulisporites, Densipollenites, Striatites and Alisporites etc. On the basis of palynoassemblage it is suggested that these sediments were deposited in the Late Barakar age. A similar palynoassemblage is found in the earlier study of bore-hole number IBH-6 from this area. The dominance of striated disaccate taxa followed by non-striated disaccate spores in the present study hence, the present palynoassemblage is equal to the Late Barakar age of other basins, India.
Fluorescence microscopic investigations of the main lignite seam from the Neyveli Lignite field, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Singh Alpana , Misra Basant K.
Published: September 2022

The organic (maceral) composition of the main lignite seam encountered in bore-holes NLE-27, 35 and 36 from mine III of Neyveli Lignitefield has been investigated under fluorescence mode (blue light excitation). The lignites are of the sub-bituminous C stage (R0 max. 0.39% ASTM classification) and predominate in the huminite group of macerals followed by those of the liptinite and inertinite groups. Liptinite macerals, viz., liptodetrinite, bituminite, chlorophyllinite and various forms of resinite and perhydrous huminite, usually indistinct under normal mode are recognized and more information about their characters and mode of occurrence has been presented. The data generated have led to a more detailed understanding of the source material, swamp type, and genesis of Neyveli's main lignite seam.
Cocos nucifera like petrified fruit from the Tertiary of Amarkantak, M.P., India
Authors: Tripathi R.P. , Mishra S.N. , Sharma B.D.
Published: September 2022

Description is given of a petrified coconut like fruit measuring 13 x 10 x 6 cm collected from the Tertiary sediments of Amarkantak (M.P.), India. The fruit wall is thick and differentiated into a narrow epicarp, a wide fibrous mesocarp and a sclerosed thick endocarp. The seed coat is 3-4 cells thick, adhered to, or free from the endocarp. The pulp or endosperm of the seed is made of loosely arranged thin walled parenchyma. This is the first report of a C. nucifera like petrified fruit from India.
Parameters in leaf and cuticle morphology
Authors: Johanna H.A. , Cittert Von Konijnenburg
Published: September 2022

Consistent and variable factors in leaf and cuticle morphology are being discussed, in the light of fossil higher plant species described exclusively on the basis of leaf characters.
Palynostratigraphy of the tertiary sediments of Meghalaya, Northeastern India - Present status and gaps
Authors: Saxena R.K.
Published: September 2022

Thick and extensive Tertiary sediments. belonging to both shelf and geosynclinal facies, occupy the southern part of the Meghalaya Plateau. The basal part of these sediments is represented by the Langpar Formation which is followed by Jaintia (Therria. Sylhet Limestone and Kopili formations), Barail (Laisong. Jenam and Renji formations), Surma (Bhuban and Bokabil formations), Tipam (Tipam Sandstone and Girujan Clay formations), Dupitila and Dihing groups. In Garo Hills, these sediments are classified into various other differently named formations. A considerable amount of palynological information has so far been published from these sediments, which provides useful data for biostratigraphic zonation, correlation and age determination and for interpreting palaeoclimate, palaeogeography and environment of deposition. An effort has been made, in the present paper, to synthesize the published palynological work on these sediments in order to understand the present status of the Tertiary palynostratigraphy of Meghalaya. It has been noticed that the various palynozones established in the Tertiary sequence of Meghalaya can be recognized by their peculiar palynofossil assemblages. This is particularly useful in the correlation of homotaxial stratigraphic units in Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills and in the interbasinal correlation. In spite of a good deal of palynodata available, there are plenty of gaps in our knowledge regarding Tertiary palynostratigraphy of Meghalaya that deserve attention of palynologists. These gaps have been identified for the future studies.
Dinoflagellate cysts from the lakadong sandstone, Cherrapunji area: biostratigraphical and palaeoenvironmental significance and relevance to sea level changes in the upper palaeocene of the Khasi Hills, South Shillong Plateau, India
Authors: Garg Rahul , Ateequzzaman Khowaja
Published: September 2022

The biostratigraphical and palaeoenvironmental significance of diagnostic Late Palaeocene (Thanetian) dinoflagellate cyst assemblages recovered from Lakadong Sandstone exposed around Cherrapunji, Khasi Hills (Meghalaya) is discussed. Based on the occurrence of the cosmopolitan markers, the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages are assigned to the combined Apectodinium hyperacanthun and A. augustum (Ahy-Aau) Biozones. Integration of dinoflagellate cyst evidence with larger foraminiferal data from the underlying Lakadong Limestone suggests close correspondence of the Apectodinium acme with the Ranikothalia nutalli- Miscellania miscella Assemblage (SBZ 5-SBZ6). Estuarine and coastal swamp depositional setting is favoured for the coal-bearing Lakadong Sandstone which is considered to be the lateral facies equivalent of the upper Lakadong Limestone, developed during sea level highstand. The Therria limestone/sandstone - Lakadong limestone/sandstone succession of the Khasi Hills is interpreted (to be deposits of transgressive and high stand system tracts) as representing a single depositional sequence between two minor sea level falls, possibly corresponding to the 3rd order cycles TA2·I·TA2·3 of the Global Sea Level Cycle Chart.
Ultrastructure of the leaf cuticle in Cycas circinalis Linn
Authors: Bajpai Usha
Published: September 2022

The organization and development of the cuticular membrane (CM) in juvenile as well as mature pinnae of Cycas circinalis Linn. have been investigated under TEM. In the Juvenile pinnae the CM is very thin with faint structural organization, whereas in the mature pinnae the structural organization of the CM can be distinctly divided into three zones, i.e., a polylamellate zone, an amorphous zone and a reticulate zone. Stages of liberation and transportation of lipophilic secretion have also been observed.
The Genus Toona (Meliaceae): dendrology, ecology and wood anatomy with reference to its applicability for tropical dendrochronology
Authors: Tomazello F M. , Botosso P.C. , Lisi C.S.
Published: September 2022

The potentiality of Toona sp. trees, Meliaceae native in Asia and Australia continents, for dendrochronological studies are described, including its silviculture, ecology and wood anatomy. Emphasis is given to the presence of distinct annual growth rings sensitive to climatic variations and detectable by wood cross-section analysis and X-ray densitometry technique.
Effects of climate on radial growth of Picea meyeri in semi-arid grassland, north China
Authors: Liang Eryuan , Shao Xuemei
Published: September 2022

Dendroclimatic assessment of Picea meyeri Rehd. et Wils was carried out on the sandy land in semi-arid Inner Mongolian grassland. Response function analysis was performed to identify climate-growth relationships for P. meyeri. The growth of P. meyeri exhibits a positive relationship with precipitation in current February and May as well as in prior September. Furthermore, it is showed that several variables among mean monthly temperature and total monthly precipitation from September of current year to August of preceding year can explain about 70% of the variance in the tree-ring width. The results reveal a greater sensitivity of this species to climate conditions in this area, suggesting that P. meyeri is a suitable species for dendroclimatic studies.
Fire History and Fire Climatology along a 5º Gradient in Latitude in Colorado and Wyoming, USA
Authors: Brown Peter M. , Shepperd Wayne D.
Published: September 2022

We reconstructed fire chronologies covering the past four to six centuries from fire scars recorded in tree-ring series from 18 sites in the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. Sites are located in forests containing predominately Pinus ponderosa. Median fire-free intervals in fire chronologies are related to latitude, with shorter intervals in southern stands than those in the north. However, strength of this relationship varied through time, with a stronger latitudinal gradient in fire frequency from 1600 to 1800 than from 1700 to 1900. Variability in fire frequency with time may be related to strength of regional climate gradients. Seasonality of fire scars also varied across the latitudinal gradient, from predominately early season fires in the south to late season fires in the north. Superposed epoch analysis of fire years with annual variability in Palmer drought severity indices shows that fire years throughout the gradient were dry, but those in the south were preceded by wet years. This result suggests that fuel amounts may have been limiting in southern forests where fire intervals were shorter and that longer intervals in the north permitted fuel buildup between fires. All chronologies show a general cessation of fire scars beginning in the latter nineteenth century, coincident with widespread Euro-American settlement of the western US.
Palynological expression about Permian-Triassic transition in the Talcher Coalfield, Orissa, India
Authors: Tripathi Archana
Published: September 2022

A Permian-Triassic palynofloral transition is recorded in Borehole TP-8, Talcher Coalfield, Orissa, India. The change of palynoflora from Late Permian to Early Triassic is gradual and not abrupt. The variation in the pattern of changeover of the palynomorph distribution at P/Tr transition in Talcher Coalfield, Mahanadi Basin and Raniganj Coalfield, Damodar Basin is discussed.
Misinterpretations about the 'Pentoxyleae' - A Mesozoic gymnospermous group of plants
Authors: Sharma B.D.
Published: September 2022

Faulty interpretations on the morphology, anatomy and phylogeny of an extinct plant group 'the Pentoxyleae' are pointed out, and correct descriptions based on the study of large number of specimens and slides are included in the present paper. Reviews and reconstructions based on imagination are challenged.
Micromorphology and Adaptation of leaf epidermal traits in Rhizophoraceae to Coastal Wetland Ecosystem
Authors: Farooqui Anjum
Published: September 2022

The leaf epidermal/cuticular micromorphological feature was studied in four genera vis-a-vis Rhizophora, Kandelia, Ceriops and Bruguiera of family Rhizophoraceae. While Rhizophora has the means to exude excess salt through their stomatal modification (cork-wart-like structure), Kandelia shows rupture in the epithelium perhaps for the same reason. No cork-wart-like structure was found in Kandelia, Ceriops and Bruguiera species. The epidermal cell size, stomatal length and breadth, stomatal index and differentiation in the costal and intercostal cell wall pattern are the identifiable traits in all the species studied. Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera caryophylloides shows increase/ decrease in the epidermal cell size and Stomatal indices with the varying coastal ecology. During salinity related stress the cork-wart-like structure in Rhizophora apiculata on the lower epidermis becomes rudimentary and non-functional while it is well developed and of larger size in normal ecological conditions. Bruguiera cylindrica differs with all the species in having undulate cell wall pattern in the coastal area studded with the stomata and shows closer affinity with B. gymnorrhiza (costal cells distinct but with sinuate anticlinal cell wall) and not with its Syn. B. caryophylloides in this respect. The stomatal index (SI) in Rhizophora apiculata shows similarity with that of Bruguiera parviflora and B. gymnorrhiza. However, R apiculata growing in stressed environment shows similar SI as in Bruguiera sexangula and other species of Rhizophora, Ceriops and Kandelia. It is understood that perhaps Rhizophora apiculata and C. decandra (Syn. C. roxburghiana) and B. cylindrica (Syn. B. caryophylloides) have SI as a non-consistent feature that tends to vary with the changing environment. Mangrove species showing similarity in the epidermal traits and their adaptive features may thrive together in a common coastal environment. Leaf epidermal traits of Rhizophoraceae would help in the identification of fossil cuticles at a specific level and their non-consistent features adapting to the changing coastal environment would provide potential proxy data for interpreting palaeoecology.
Fossil wood of Dryobalanops from Pliocene deposits of Indonesia
Authors: Srivastava R. , Kagemori Norico
Published: September 2022

The present paper gives a detailed account of anatomical features of petrified wood showing affinities with the modern genus Dryobalanops Gaertn.f. of the family Dipterocarpaceae. The fossil wood was found as a big tree trunk in volcanic sediments near Bogor, West Java (Indonesia). The distribution of extant Dryobalanops is restricted to tropical evergreen rain forests of Malaysia and Indonesia (Sumatra & Borneo). Today it is absent in the natural forests of Java, although the broad climatic setting has not changed much since Pliocene times. Reasons for its absence in the island are discussed.
An argument for the origins of heterospory in aquatic environments
Authors: Kar R.K. , Dilcher David L.
Published: September 2022

The bifid, grapnel-like processes and apical prominence (acrolamella) found in some heterosporous Middle-Late Devonian spores closely resemble to the bifid processes of acritarchs, dinoflagellates, and some Cretaceous - Recent heterosporous aquatic ferns and the lycopsid Isoetes. The spongy wall ultrastructure of Protobarinophyton pennsylvanicum and Barinophyton citrulliforme shows some similarities to the megaspore wall structure of Azolla, Salvinia, Isoetes and Marsilea. The difference between the microspore and megaspore wall structure seen in B. citrulliforme and P. pennsylvanicum is comparable to the difference found in megaspore and microspore wall structure of Azolla, Salvinia and Isoetes. As the spongy wall structure found in heterosporous aquatic ferns provides buoyancy in an aquatic environment, the same may have been true for Protobarinophyton and Barinophyton and we suggest they probably were aquatic in the dispersal of their spores. These genera are among the oldest heterosporous megaspores known and we suggest that the earliest line of heterospory evolution may be linked to aquatic dispersal of spores and outcrossing in their fertilization during the Middle Devonian. This paper is a review of relevant literature and information. We use these data to support our hypothesis that the reproduction of plants by heterospory has its origins in aquatic environments.
Characterisation of organic source material from Tatapani and Ramkola coalfields, Chhattisgarh, India.
Authors: Sarana Shinjini
Published: September 2022

Detailed study of the coal microconstituents from Tatapani and Ramkola coalfields has revealed preservation of leaf sections, cork cells, microspores, megaspores, algae, resins, seeds and fruiting bodies. The completely intact leaf sections showing various tissues are reported here for the first time from Early Permian coals. Occurrence of such well-preserved plant structures indicates that certain part of Indian Lower Gondwana coals could be partially of autochthonous in origin, while the Gondwana coals are known to have been formed by drifted plant matter, as also confirmed by the presence of distorted material. The palaeodepositional environment and nature of coal forming plant community have also been discussed.
Dinoflagellate cyst evidence for the age of Kulakkalnattam Sandstone Member, Garudamangalam Formation, Cauvery Basin, Southern India
Authors: Khowaja-Ateequzzaman  , Garg Rahul
Published: September 2022

Rich and diversified dinoflagellate cyst assemblages comprising 42 genera and 68 species have been recovered from the Kulakkalnattam Sandstone Member of the Garudamangalam Formation exposed in and around Ariyalur, Cauvery Basin, and southern India. First and last appearances of dinoflagellate cyst taxa present in the assemblage, including Callaiosphaeridium asymmetricum, Circulodiniumm distinctum,Cribroperidinium aceras, C. edwardsii, C. cooksoniae, Conosphaeridium striatoconus, Cyclonephelium compactum, Florentinia cooksoniae, F. mantellii, Heterosphaeridium difficile, Litosphaeridium siphoniphorum and Palaeoperidinium pyrophorum,  suggest that the age of the member ranges from Middle to Late Turonian.
Professor Divya Darshan Pant, Professor T.S. Sadasivan, Professor Henry N. Andrews, Professor Ramesh Chandra Misra
Authors: Sharma Mukund
Published: September 2022

NA
First occurrence of fossil paraphyses resembling Acrostichum Linn. from the Lalitpur Intertrappean sediments (Palaeocene), Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Kar Ratan , Singh R.S.
Published: September 2022

A new microfossil of paraphyses viz., Lithoparaphysis paproensis gen. et sp. nov. recovered from the Lalitpur Intertrappean bed (Palaeocene) is described here. This fossil species closely resembles the paraphyses of Acrostichum aureum Linn., a mangrove fern, and is found in association with the Palaeocene marker spore-pollen taxa.
Kalviwadithyrites, a new fungal fruiting body from Sindhudurg Formation (Miocene) of Maharashtra, India
Authors: Rao M.R.
Published: September 2022

A rich palynoflora consisting of fungal remains, pteridophyte spores and angiosperm pollen has been recovered from Sindhudurg Formation exposed at Kalvlwadi, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra. In this assemblage, a fungal fruiting body Kalviwadithyrites is proposed as new and it could not be accommodated in any of the known fossil fungal genera.
Palynological investigation of the Sindhudurg Formation (Miocene) exposed at Kalviwadi, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Rao M.R.
Published: September 2022

A diversified palynofloral assemblage has been recovered from the Sindhudurg Formation exposed at Kalviwadi, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra. The palynoflora consists of fungal remains (18 genera and 26 species), pteridophyte spores (5 genera and 5 species) and angiosperm pollen (12 genera and 13 species). Two new species of fossil angiosperm pollen are proposed: Lakiapollis ratnagiriensis and Tricolporopollis sindhudurgensis. A quantitative analysis of the spores and pollen recovered shows a dominance of fungal remains is a conspicuous feature of the assemblage. The palynomorphs in the assemblage has been compared with pollen and spores of modern taxa. The distribution of the families represented by the fossil assemblage suggests a tropical-subtropical (warm and humid) climate with high rainfall. The depositional environment is interpreted as near shore, coastal with brackish swampy lagoon.
Wood remains from Ahichchhatra, District Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh (ca. 475 B.C. to A.D. 1280)
Authors: Srivastava Chanchala
Published: September 2022

The paper describes the anatomical investigation of wood remains from an ancient mound at Ahichchhatra in Bareilly District of Uttar Pradesh along with their archaeological significance. The wood charcoals are the only botanical finds described from this ancient site. The studies have brought to light the exploitation of locally available timbers by the ancient settlers from the surrounding Sal forests in this region of Ganga-Yamuna Doab, from late Painted Grey Ware and Northern Black Polished Ware periods up to Historical levels (approximately from ca. 475 B.C. to A.D. 1280). The taxa recovered viz., Shorea robusta (Sal). Terminalia tomentosa (Laurel), Dalbergia sissoo (Sheesham), Anogeissus latifolia (Axle-wood) and Acacia sp. (Babul), indicate prevalence of tropical monsoon climate in the ancient times, similar to the present day conditions.
Climate Change and Human History in Ganga Plain during Late Pleistocene-Holocene
Authors: Singh I.B.
Published: September 2022

The Ganga Plain exhibits a large variety of landforms produced essentially during last about 100 kyrs in response to base level, tectonic and climate change. Prominent changes in the monsoon rainfall in the Ganga Plain have been identified, namely, 45 kyrs BP, humid climate; 20-13 kyrs BP, low rainfall; 13-11.5 kyrs BP, high rainfall; 11.5-10.5 kyrs BP, low rainfall; 10.5-5.8 kyrs BP, high rainfall; 5.8-2.0 kyrs BP, low rainfall; and 2.0-0 kyrs BP, high rainfall. Palaeo-vegetation studies indicate that the Ganga Plain was a grassland, at least, since 45 kyrs BP, where C-4 type vegetation dominated. The lakes supported C-3 type vegetation and they show changes in the water budget in response to the changes in rainfall. There is evidence of occupation of Ganga Plain by humans, at least, since 45 kyrs. They occupied the high grounds close to the water bodies, mostly lakes and ponds. Initially human population was hunter-gatherer depending on rich fauna and wild vegetation. Frequent climate changes in latest Pleistocene-Early Holocene probably led to adaptation of agricultural practices by humans. Large-scale occupation of the Ganga Plain took place between 3.5-3.0 kyrs BP. Study of oxygen isotopes in teeth enamel show century-scale rainfall changes in the last 3.5 kyrs BP which show some correlation to the cultural changes in the Ganga Plain. Climate change and human history in the Ganga Plain is closely related and need to be studied by high-resolution investigations.
Occurrence of Aninopteris (Matoniaceae) from the Middle Jurassic of East central Iran
Authors: Ataabadi Majid Mirzaie , Djafarian Mohammadali , Mohammadalizadeh Jafar
Published: September 2022

Aninopteris Givulescu and Popa 1998, a matoniacean fern originally known from the Lower Jurassic deposits of Romania, has been recently reported from the Middle Jurassic coal bearing deposits of Mazino mine, south of Tabas region, east central Iran. This is the second record of this genus, excepting its original occurrence from the Anina region of Romania. Besides the younger age, the Iranian material differs from the type material in having a higher number of sporangia, and less branched secondary veins. Thus, Aninopteris formosa var. persica var. nov. is proposed for the studied material.
Middle Eocene calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Taxonomy of onland Kutch Basin, western India
Authors: Rai Jyotsana
Published: September 2022

Rich and diversified nannofossil assemblage comprising 110 species (13 new species and 8 new taxonomic combinations) and 4 calcareous dinoflagellates species are described from the type locality of Harudi Formation and Fulra Limestone Fonnation of Kutch Basin. The assemblage is dominated by the families Braarudosphaeraceae, Rhabdosphaeraceae and Calyptrosphaeraceae. All holococcolith genera except genus Peritrachelina are recorded in the assemblage. The assemblage is typically indicative of low-latitude, nearshore, shallow water environment and can be assigned to zone NP 17 Discoaster saipanensis Zone (Martini, 1971a emend. Rai, 1988). It also correlated with parts of both P 13 Orbulinoides beckmanni and P 14 Truncorotaloides rohri planktonic foraminifera Zones (Blow, 1969) and a part of D11 Dinoflagellate Zone (Costa & Manum in Vinken, 1988) of Bartonian age. Critical reappraisal of published fossil records including age diagnostic planktonic and larger foraminifera species and nannofossil data along with field observations of supratrappeans indicate, three discrete lithounits in ascending order viz., shale-marl-limestone upto terminal Fulra Limestone Formation.The proposed model questions the presence of marine sediments of Palaeocene, Lower Eocene and Lutetian age in onland Kutch Basin (Biswas & Raju, 1973; Biswas, 1992).
Triassic Conifer wood from the Tiki Formation, South Rewa Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Ram-Awatar  , Rajanikanth A.
Published: September 2022

The present paper records a conifer wood from the Triassic sequence of the Tiki Formation, ~3 km NE of Tiki Village, district Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, India. Since Triassic wood records are hardly known from India when compared to leaf fossils, the present report of podocarpean wood provides additional evidence for the existence of conifers in the otherwise pteridosperm dominated fossil flora of South Rewa Basin during the Carnian-Norian times.
Systematic study of the leaf impressions from the Churia Formation of Koilabas area, Nepal and their significance
Authors: Prasad Mahesh , Dwivedi H.D.
Published: September 2022

Detailed study of the leaf impressions collected from the Churia sediments of Koilabas area, western Nepal reveals the occurrence of eight taxa, viz. Berchemia nepalenisis sp. nov. (Rhamnaceae), Canthium siwalicum sp. nov., Nauclea seriensis sp. nov. and Randia miouncaria sp. nov. (Rubiaceae), Alyxia koilabasensis sp. nov. and Alstonia nepalensis sp. nov.(Apocynaceae), Antidesma miocenica sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae) and Artocarpus nepalensis Prasad and Awasthi (Moraceae). The habit and habitat of the modern equivalent of leaf impressions indicate existence of evergreen forest thriving under warm humid climate in the Koilabas area during the Middle Miocene as compared to mixed deciduous forests growing at present under reduced precipitation.
The Ediacaran Period: It's lower and upper boundaries in India
Authors: Kumar Gopendra , Maithy P.K.
Published: September 2022

The newly established Ediacaran Period (terminal Proterozoic) 'begins with termination of the last great global glaciation (Marinoan) of the Neoproterozoic Era' and ends with appearance of biologically distinct world characterised by an assemblage of diverse skeletal fossils of bilaterian animals of the Cambrian Period. Significant depletion in C-isotope values is also recorded at both the boundaries. In India, Ediacaran sequences form part of a continuous sequence that rests unconformably over the oldest platform sequences (Meso-Cryogenian) in many parts of the Lesser and Tethys/Higher Himalaya, and grade into Cambrian. Of the various sections studied, the Maldeota section of the Baliana-Krol-Tal succession, Krol Belt, Lesser Himalaya is found to be the best for the study of both the boundaries. The Lower boundary of the Period is marked at the base of red-green shale and pinkish lenticular dolomite (Member G) - the cap carbonate, forming topmost bed of the Blaini Formation, Baliana Group. There is marked change in assemblage of acritarch and cyanobacteria within upper part of the Baliana Group with appearance and extinction of Ediacaran fauna in the overlying Krol. This change is also accompanied with a significant depletion in C-isotope values in the 'cap carbonate'. The upper boundary could not be precisely demarcated in the absence of boundary diagnostic trace fossils. However, a significant depletion in C-isotope values is recorded in the upper part of the Krol Group with appearance of spiny and processed acritarch (acanthomorphs), scaphomorphs and hercomorphs, small shelly fossils, trace fossils and trilobites of Early Cambrian age in the overlying Tal Group, which is considered to mark the boundary.

A review of biota recorded from older sequences viz. Vindhyan Supergroup, Bhima, Kurnool, Chhattisgarh, and Indravati Groups, etc. of the peninsular India, suggest them to be of Mesoproterozoic-Cryogenian (pre-Sturtian glaciation) age. The paper discusses in detail both lower and upper boundaries of the Ediacaran Period and attempts at the correlation with GSSP.