1995-96 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

BSIP
suggests low land mesophytic tropical evergreen forest in the present foot-hill zone of
Nepal during Miocene-Pliocene. Presence of a sizeable number of Malaysian elements,
the floral assemblage suggests a phytogeographical link between Indian subcontinent and
southeast Asia during the above periods.
N. Awasthi [& M. Konomatsu (Japan)]
An International palaeobotanical Project "Gondwana Alive" under the aegis of
the lOP and lUGS has been chalked out by Dr J.M. Anderson, Pretoria. South Africa. This
aims at plotting terrestrial plant biodiversity through Gondwana and also includes other
allied disciplines. Scope, aims and sub-projects are being finalized for the Indian subcontinent
to be presented in a workshop to be held at Santa Barbara, U.S.A.
Shaila Chandra
Plant megafossil specimens (120) from Kashmir Himalaya bclonging to Early
Carboniferous age were studied, photographed and identified. Description and draft of two
papers is being written.
Shaila Chandra [& G.M. Bhat (Jammu University)]
A draft manuscript entitled-Organic petrology of Tipam coals, Arunachal Himalaya
: their nature, composition, rank and depositional environment has been prepared.
Anand-Prakash,
J. Rai [& T. Singh, WIHG, Dehradunl
Palynological study has been done in the productive samples (10) of Talchir
sediments exposed along Ajay River, Raniganj Coalfield. Qualitative assessment of sporepollen
taxa reveals a diversified palyno-eomposition represented by I'licafipo/lenifes,
I'olonieisporiles, ('aheniasaccifes, Jayanlisporifes. Microbacll/i.lpora. Cresccnlipo//enifes
etc., and few alete forms. It compares with the palynoassemblage of Biohorizon III, Upper
Talchir, which supports the absence of lower sedimentary cycle of Talchir Formation in this
loop of Ajay River section.
Vijaya r& Sun Kequin, China]
Palynological studies of bore-hole ANH-3 and ANH-I drilled through Denwa
Formation from Anhoni area, Satpura Basin have been processed and found barren of pollen
and spores.
Pramod Kumar 1& P.K. Raha, GSI, Nagpur]
Cellulose acetate peels of a petrified wood from Arunachal Pradesh were prepared
and photographed. The specimen shows a well-preserved parenchymatous pith cells
of which at places are filled with dark contents. The primary xylem is endarch. the xylem
rays are homogeneous, uni- multi-seriate, and 1-4 cells high. Pits on the radial walls of the
tracheids arc araucaroid and 2-3 seriate. Cross field pits are large, cupressoid, and mostly
I, rarely 2, in·number.
Usha Bajpai [& T. Singh (WIHG, Dehradun)]
Palynological analysis of35 sanlples from 13.02 m deep profile dated pre 40,000
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