Angiospermous fossil fruits/seeds during Tertiary in India

Abstract

A number of fossil fruits/seeds are known from the different Tertiary sediments in India ranging from the Maastrichtian-Danian (Palaeocene) to the Pliocene-Pleistocene. Present account embodies the listing of some well known fossil fruits/seeds from the Indian Tertiary and an attempt has been made to throw light on their palaeoecological, palaeophytogeographical and the evolutionary significance. Most of the known monocot fossils belong particularly to the family Arecaceae from the Maastrichtian-Danian Deccan Intertrappean beds of India. In the dicots, quite a few fossil fruits/seeds of family Lythraceae are described only from the Maastrichtian-Danian, while the fabaceous fruits/seeds are described in a large number mostly from the Oligocene to Miocene. The families viz., Arecaceae, Burseraceae, Combretaceae, Nyssaceae, Polygonaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rubiaceae and Sapindaceae occur in the Neogene sediments. However, the paucity of fossil fruits/seeds precludes any definite analysis or comments on their palaeobotanical characteristics. Most of the fossil fruits are drupaceous or capsular while fabaceous fruits are lomentum or legume. types. The fibrous nature of mesocarp in Arecaceous fruits suggests their dispersal through water, such plants might be growing in the coastal areas or near the other water bodies. The capsular or the other fruits with thin pericarp might belong to the inland terrestrial zones. Many fruits of uncertain affinities, e.g. Sahniocarpon, Wingospermocarpon, Enigmocarpon and Viracarpon pose interesting questions about the evolution of angiosperms during the Tertiary in India. Further investigations are needed to ascertain the taxonomy of fossil fruits/seeds, to ascribe them to respective families.