1995-96 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

BSIP
Programme 3.13
To carry out detailed SEJvf studies for evolutionary
lineages
Samples from mine II bearing lignite section at Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, were
collected. The palynotaxa of productive samples were recovered as : Cyathidites australis,
Polypodiaceaesporites major, P tertiarus, Todisporites major, Dictyophyllidites laevigatus,
D. dulcis, Schizaeoisporites ramanujamii, S. ghoshii, S. multistriatus and
Lycopodiumsporites laldensis constitutes the pteridophytic group, whereas monocot taxa
are referable to Arecipites punctatus, A. bellus, Arengapollenites achinatus, Acanthotricolpiles
brevispinosus, Palmidiles maximus, P plicatus, Palmaepollenites keralensis,
cf. Sclerosperma manii and Spinizonocolpiles brevispinosus. The dicotyledonous pollen
appeared to dominate the total population. These were represented by Dracaenopollis sp.,
Meliapollis ramanujamii, M navalei, M quadrangulares, M meliodes, Tricolpites
reticulatus, Ctenolophonidites costatus, C. saadii, C. ramanujamii, Triangulorites
bel/us, Trilatiporiles erdtmanii, Warkallipollenites reticulatus, Ericipites sahnii,
Palaeosantalaceaepites minutus, Laldapollis ovatus, Proteacidites triangulus and
Anacolosidites luteoides. Apart from the pteridophytic and angiospermous pollen taxa, a
number of fungal spores and fruiting bodies were also present in the assemblage. Based on
the assemblage recorded from the lignite section, two cenozones were recognised, viz.,
Ctenolophonidites cenozone referable to 95-110 m depth (top of lignite) and Trilatiporites
erdtmanii cenozone between 110-120 m depth (bottom of lignite).
SEM studies oHossil Sclerosperma cf. S. manii (Bande & Ambwani, 1982) was
carried out to ascertain the aperture nature and affinities both in fossil and extant pollen of
Sclero.l'perma as well as to confirm the existence of African palm-like plants in the ecological
complex ofNeyveli.
K. Ambwani
Palynostratigraphical investigation of the Tertiary sediments
of western coast of India
Objective Identification of palynosuils for palynostratigraphical studies
To establish cenozones of the Tertiary sediments and correlate
the rock sequence
To trace evolutionary relationship of palynotaxa basea on character
analysis
To deduce the age and palaeoenvironment
of the sediments
Chemical processing of the samples from Quilon and Warkalli formations ofKeraia
was done. Several palynofloral assemblages were identified at different stratigraphic levels.
The morphotaxonomical study of the palynomorphs was done. In general angiospermic
pollen are the most dominant elements followed by pteridophytic spores. The significant
palynofossils recovered are : Lygodiumsporiles padappakkarensis, Crassoretitriletes
vanraadshooveni, Pteridacidites vermiverrucatus, Laldapol/is ovatus, Tricolporopollis
matanamadhensis, Malvacearumpollis bakonyensis, M grandis, Compositoipol/eniles
alleppeyensis, Chenopodipollis miocenica, Proteacidites triangulus, Ctenolophonidites
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