A study on morphotaxonomy and distribution of glossopterid scale leaves from the Barakar Formation, South Karanpura Coalfield, Jharkhand, India

摘要

The gymnosperms of order Glossopteridales are embodied by the naked fertile organs, which are usually attached to the vegetative leaves of glossopterids. The fossils of detached scale leaves are reported from the upper Barakar Formation (Kungurian) of South Karanpura Coalfield, Jharkhand, India. The assemblage consists of seven types of scale leaves (Denkania type, Eretmonia type, Glossotheca type, Partha type, Plumsteadiostrobus type, Scirroma type, Venustostrobus type). These detached scale leaves might have been attached to the axis in association with regular leaves. The article deals with the morpho- taxonomical descriptions and the distribution of the retrieved taxa in Lower Permian strata of Indian peninsula. This record of glossopterid scale leaves is the first of its kind from the Barakar Formation of South Karanpura Coalfield of the Indian Gondwana.