Organisational Structure - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
Component 2: Tertiary floristics of peninsular India
Studied and identified a number of woods from
the Intertrappeans and Neogene sediments of Gujarat.
The woods belong to various genera, viz. Afzelia-
Intsia, Bauhinia, Cynometra, Ficus, Sterculia, etc.
Identified some dicot and palm leaf-remains from
Eocene of Rajasthan. Also finalised a paper on the
Intertrappean woods of Kachchh (with R.
Srivastava).
J.S. Guleria
Collected and processed lignite samples from
exposed section (6-27 m) of mine II of Neyveli lignite
field. The palynological assemblage recovered from
the samples belongs to 33 genera and 40 species, out
of which 23 genera belong to angiosperms, 5 genera
(8 species) to pteridophytes and 5 genera belong to
fungi. The recorded assemblage attributes Miocene
age for the lignite deposits and indicates that the
lignite was deposited in a moist tropical forest along
with inland elements. Carried out study to understand
evolution, palaeogeographic distribution and
extinction of the genus Trilatiporites (=
Sclerosperma) with context to Indian sub-continent.
K. Ambwani
Studied rock succession in two sections from
Fulra nala (Fulra Limestone Formation, Late-Middle
Eocene) of Kachchh Basin. One section has yielded
palynofossils. The assemblage mainly contains
Aplanosporites and dinocysts besides few
Margocolporites, Tricolporopilites and pteridophytic
spores. A few palynotaxa comparable to Tasmanites
and Tetraploa have also been recovered. Section of
Khari Nadi Formation (Early Miocene) near Kunri
village has yielded Striatriletes, Khariasporites,
Palaeomalvaceaepollis, Hibisceaepollenites,
Meliapollis and Pinuspollenites. The
palynoassemblage compares well with Striatriletes
susannae zone (Kar, 1985) except dinocysts which
are meagre in the present assemblage. A few
Bombacacidites pollen of smaller size have been
recovered from Naredi Formation (Early Eocene). A
paper has been finalised highlighting their
phytogeographical significance and discussing the
stratigraphic antiquity of the fossil Bombacaceae
pollen in India.
J.P. Mandal
Completed the morphotaxonomy and
identification of spore-pollen recovered from
Parachuri and Vidyamandir well sections, Ratnagiri
district (Maharashtra). The palynological
assemblages consist of fungal remains
(Phragmothyrites, Notothyrites, Parmathyrites,
Kutchiathyrites, Ratnagiriathyrites, Lirasporis,
Dicellaesporites, Dyadosporonites, Multicellaesporites,
Pluricellaesporites & Staphalosporonites),
pteridophytic spores (Lygodiumsporites, Striatriletes,
Pteridacidites, Osmundacidites, Cyathidites and
Polypodiaceaesporites) and angiospermous pollen
(Quilonipollenites, Plumbaginacipites, Dipterocarpuspollenites,
Retitrescolpites. Lakiapollis,
Ctenolophonidites, Verrutriporites, Clavaperiporites
and Malvacearumpollis). The palynoflora suggests a
warm and humid climate (tropical-subtropical) with
plenty of rainfall during the deposition of sediments.
The environment of deposition has been interpreted
as nearshore with sufficient fresh water or freshwater
swamp near by. The Heliospermopsis represents the
salt glands of mangrove plants.
M.R. Rao
Continued the morphotaxonomic study of
palynofossils recovered from Akli Formation, Giral
lignite mine, Barmer district (Rajasthan).
Dinoflagellate cysts, fungal remains, pteridophytic
spores and angiosperm pollen constitutes the
assemblage. The flora is distinctly dominated by
monosulcate pollen appearing to be related to the
family Arecaceae (Palmae). Based on qualitative and
quantitative analyses two zones were identified in the
studied sequence. The lower zone is characterised
by high frequency of dinoflagellate cysts along with
low number of pteridophytic spores suggesting the
deposition of this part of sediments under shallow
marine environment. The upper zone is distinctly
dominated by angiosperm pollen having affinity with
coastal elements and the palms. Most of the
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