1994-95 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

1994-95
Kalan were cleared, photographed and studied. They have been tentatively identified with
Ule leaves of Anacardiaceae and Sapindaceae.
N. Awasthi & Anita Dwivedi
Thin sections of fifty fossil wood specimens from Nawargaon in Wardha District,
Maharashlra were cut and studied. Several genera have been identified, viz., Ailanthus,
Harringtonia, Canarium, Elaeocarpus, Euphoria, Homalium and Sterculia. In addition, a
gymnospermous wood and a palm root have also been found. This study reveals that similar
tlora of Deccan had a wide extension during Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary Period.
N. AwasUli & E.G. Kharc (Pm1 time Ph.D. work)
Programme 3.2
Objective
Studies on the Tertiary 110ras of western India
To build up floristic history and phytogeography of western
India
Sixty petrified and carboni sed woods from southern Gujarat were cut and studied.
The genera identi fied are Cynometra, Milleuia-Pongamia (Fabaceae), Diospyros
(Ebenaceae), Duabanga (Sonneratiaceae), Lagerstroemia (Lylhraceae) and Terlllina/ia
(Combretaceae). In addilions, a wood belonging to family Rosaceae has heen identilied. A
male intlorescenee of Nipa palm alongwith palm leaves was identilied and compared with
rare living material available at the Royal BOlanic Gm'dens, Kew. Spike-like intlorescences
have been collected from the Palaeocene sediments of Bm'mer (Rajasthan) and Assam: A
raper on fossil woods was linalized. Study on the oceUlTence of Diplerocarpus in l3ikaner
indicates the occurrence of moist trorical conditions in the western Rajasthan during Late
Tertiary,
.I.S, Guleria
Programme 3.3
Objective
Palynostratigraphy and palaeol1oristics of the Mesowie­
Tertiary sediments in Rajasthan Basin
To establish palynological succession in the Cretaceous- Tertiary
sequences
To deduce palaeoenvironment
Palynological studies on seventy-nine rock sanlples from five well sections (MK­
207, MK-216, M.I-4, M.I-13 and M.I-15) drilled near Kapurdi and .Ialipa, Barmer Dislrict
were completed. Palynotloral assemblages recovered are represented by dinoflagellate cysts,
fungal remains, pteridophytic spores and angiospermic pollen, Palynotloral resemblance
between the presenl assemblage and Ulat recorded from Matanomadh Formation, 13m'mer
Sandstone, Ak:1ilignite and P~lana lignite of western India m'e striking, Forms common
between the present assemblage and that of Matanomadh Formation of Kutch are:
Dandotiaspora dUma, D, telonata, Lygodiumsporites eocenicus, L. lak/ensis,
Neocouperipollis rarispinosus, Matanomadhiasulcites maximus, Tricofporopollis matano-
95