1991-92 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

1991-92K.P. Jain, Rahul Garg and Khowaja-AteequzzamanA well preserved and datable Palaeocene dinonagellate cyst assemblage isdiscovered from an outcropping carbonaceous shale sequence overlying theDeccan Traps near Nareda, south-western Kutch as well as from Lakhpat subcrop.This is extremely significant as age of the earliest Palaeogene clastic sequence inKutch has generated much controversy in recenl years because existence of Palaeocene- Early Eocene rocks dated earlier on foraminiferal and bivalve evidencehas often been denied based mainly on a "false identification" criteria.RahulGargThe distribution of pteridophytic spores in the Tertiary sediments of India hasbeen critically analysed. One hundred and fifty fossil spore genera have beenstudied to understand their morphological range of variation. They have beencompared with the spores of extant taxa. A range chart of pteridophytic sporesincorporating data from the Tertiary strata of India has been prepared.SamirSarkarPalynological and palaeoecological study of the Kundlu and Nalagarh formationspertaining to Lower Siwalik sediments (Mid- Miocene) exposed in andaround Kundlu has been made. Palynological evidences coupled with plantmegafossil records have been used to reconstruct the history of the vegetation ofthis area. Tho distinct palynoassociations have been identified. PalynoassociationI characterises the entire Kundlu Formation which extends into the lower part ofthe younger Nalagarh Formation. It exhibits the excl usive presence of Cosmarium,Pediastrum along with high incidence of Ceratopteris, Lycopodium and Polypodium.Palynoassociation II is characterised by the presence of Pinus, Podocarpus, Acacia,Dipterocarpus, etc. and is confined to the upper part of Nalagarh Formation.Angiospcrmous pollen register a dominant position in this assemblage whereas thealgal elements sharply decline. The present palynonora augumented by megafossilevidences brings to ligh t a broad leaf type of vegetation conforming to warm humidclimate with tropical to subtropical distribution.Samir Sarkar and H.P. SinghDuring noristic survey of Mahuadanr Valley (Chhechari Valley) which is situatedin Chotanagpur plateau region of south Bihar in Palamau District, someangiospermic plants have been collected from different localities in the area forreference collection. 94 species have been identified. Leaf impressions of eachspecies have been prepared in order to understand the morphology of fossil plantleaves. The vegetation of the area is tropical deciduous type. Sal is the dominantspecies in the forest.The study of sedge nora has long been neglected possibly because of its minutegrass-like appearance and complicated noral morphology. There are some membersin the family Cyperaceae which play major role in soil reclamation andprevention of soil erosion. 96 species belonging to 8 genera of Cyperaceae familyhave been collected from eastern Uttar Pradesh. The area includes the districts ofBahraich, Gonda, Basti, Gorakhpur and Deoria. A key for identification of plant57