1995-96 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

BSIP
SEM studies on the different species of Phoenix: P sylvestris, P reclinata, P
canariensis, P dactylifera, Livistona australis, L. chinensis, Sabal major, Borassus
flabellifer, Hyphaene thebaica and Chrysalidocarpus madagascarensis were carried out
and their photography was done. In order to compare the nature of the apertural architecture
between fossil Sclerosperma (Bande & Ambwani, 1982) with the extant African palm
Sclerosperma manti, similarities and differences in both the specimens were recorded. The
exine pattern of zonisulcate pollen, Proxapertites crassimurus was compared with Areca
chainiana.
An approach to study the fossil plant tissues under SEM was taken up espccially
for the plants which underwent volcanic activity with particular reference to middle lamella.
This study was also applied to the fossils from Deccan Intcrtrappean beds, lignite, and
nonvolcanic fossil woods in the Tertiary scdiments occurring over a wide range of geological
age. Similar studies were also applied on the modern charcoal for comparison work. It
was deduced that the absence of middle lamella in the Deccan Intertrappean woods and
openly bum woods, probably points out that volcanic erruption pouring lava causing fire,
produced fusain at the cost of middle lamella.
K. Ambwani
Programme 9.13
Objective
Palynological studies on the Late Cretaceous sediments of
central India
To collect and process samples for quantitative and qualitative
analyses of the palynoflora
To establish palynological zonationfor correlation and dating of
each unit of rocks
To infer palaeoclimate and depositional environment
To demarcate K-T boundary on the basis of palynology
To study the limit of paleoprovince during the Late Cretaceous
To study extant pollen and spores for comparison with extinct
.\pores and pollen infering palaeoclimate and depositional environment
Literature on the Deccan Intertrappean beds was consulted. The samples collected
from around Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur, Maharashtra mainly represent the
intratrappean and intertrappean beds. A draft manuscript "Diversity of the genus Nypa since
Late Cretaceous in the Indian subcontinent" was finalized.
R.S. Singh
PROJECT 10
Objective
APPLICATION OF GEOBOTANICAL ANALYSIS IN
I. MINERAL PROSPECTING
II. RECONSTRUCTING THE HISTORY OF MODERN
VEGETATION THROUGH CENOZOIC ERA
To assess the extant plant communities for indication of
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