1994-95 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

1994--95
Objective
To systematically
study spores and pollen
To establish paLynozonation
To reconstruct the past vegetation, environment
and paLaeogeography
0/ deposition
One hundred-fifty samples collected from the Indus Group exposed at Khalsi,
Oras and Kargil areas were macerated. Dispersed organic matter yielding horizons have
been identified from Khalsi area. Algal remains have been recovered from the lower par1
of Indus Group. Morphotaxonomic study is now being taken up.
R. K. Saxena & Samir Sarkar
Programme 5.6
Neogene Himalaya: floristics, evolutionary patterns and
climate
Objective To undertake extensive study o//ossil plalltsfromNeogene sedimellts
0/ different regions 0/ the HimaLaya
To build up IhefloraL succession/or interpreting paLaeoecolog);
phytogeography and evoLution 0/ the HimaLayan flora
Sorted and cleared the leaf-impressions collected from the KasauH sediments of
Himachal Pradesh. A paper on the lea-impressions of Bauhinia from Kasauli was finalized.
N. Awasthi
Out of a rich collection of fossil plants from the KasauH Formation, near Shiv
Shakti Temple, Kasauli, five types of leaf -impressions have been identified with the leaves
of the extant taxa, Clinogyne dichotoma (monocotyledon), Garcinia speciosa, Glufa
tavoyana, Conzbrelwn apewlunz and Phyllal/lhus reliculatus (dicotyledons). These are distributed
in the Indo-Malayan region and suggest that the Kasauli nora nourished under
tropical climate with better representation of evergreen clements. Occurrence of coastal
plants, such as, Garcinia speciosa and Gluta tavoyana indicates persistence of the coastal
environment in the area during deposition of the Kasauli sediments.
N. Awasthi 1& Ritesh Arya, Chandigarh]
Plant fossils comprising leaves, fruits and seeds from Surai Khola, Arjun Khola
and Rehar areas of western Nepal have been studied and descriptions of35 leaf-impressions
collected from Arjun Khola have been written. In addition, some more leaf-impressions
have been identi fied. TIley are : Anzoora lawii, Anisoplem glabm, Cocculus Irilobus,
Diospyros dasyphylla, Ficus scandens, Ipomoea eriocarpa, Mallolus philippinense, Sabia
palliculala and Valicaperapellsis. A manusclipt entitled, "Further contribution to the Siwalik
nora from Surai Khola sequence, western Nepal and palaeoecology and phytogeography of
the region" was prepared. Based on the distribution patterns of the modern counterparts of
megafossils, a low mesophytic tropical moist deciduous to evergreen forests in the area
during Siwalik sedimentation has been envisaged.
N. Awasthi & Mahesh Prasad
105