GLOSSOPTERIS FLORA FROM THE PALI FORMATION, JOHILLA COALFIELD, SOUTH REWA GONDWANA BASIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA: PALYNOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR A LATE PERMIAN AGE

摘要

A well preserved plant fossil assemblage comprising the orders Filicales and Glossopteridales has been systematically analyzed for the first time from the Pali Formation, near the Pali village, Johilla Coalfield, Umaria District, South Rewa Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh. The assemblage includes Neomariopteris hughesii, fifteen species of Glossopteris namely, G. bosei , G. communis, G. gondwanensis, G. indica, G. intermedia, G. intermittens, G. leptoneura, G. longicaulis, G. searsoliensis, G. spathulata, G. stricta, G. subtilis, G. tenuifolia, G. tenuinervis, G. vulgaris, Vertebraria indica, Utkaliolepis indica (scale leaf) and dispersed seeds, Cordaicarpus zeilleri, Rotundocarpus striatus, Samaropsis goraiensis and S. feistmantelii. The palynoassemblage is characterized by dominance of striate bisaccate pollen grains chiefly species of Striatopodocarpites and Faunipollenites in association with Striatites, Verticipollenites, Densipollenites, Lahirites, Crescentipollenites, Distriatites, Arcuatipollenites, Scheuringipollenites, Decussatisporites and shows sporadic occurrence of some stratigraphically significant taxa like Guttulapollenites, Alisporites and Weylandites indicating a late Permian age. The megafloral assemblage of the Pali Formation is comparable with those of non-coaliferous beds of Kamthi and Bijori formations of Mahanadi and Satpura Gondwana basins, respectively, and to some extent with Pachhwara Formation of the Rajmahal Basin. The lithological attributes of the Pali Formation are also shared with these formations. Additionally, the flora is comparable with that of the Raniganj Formation of the Damodar Basin. The palynoflora of the Pali Formation can be correlated with the late Permian palynofloras of other lower Gondwana basins of India, Antarctica, South Africa, South America and Australia.