Pteridophytes during the Tertiary period of south India as revealed by their characteristic sporomorphs

Abstract

The Tertiary deposits (subsurface and/or surface) of south India show 31 genera and 66 species of pteridophytic spores referable to Lycopodiaceae, Gleicheniaceae, Osmundaceae, Ophioglossaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, Schizaeaceae, Parkeriaceae, Pteridaceae. Cyatheaceae/Dicksoniaceae and Polypodiaceae. Both in numbers and diversity the pteridophytes were much more abundant during Neogene (Miocene) than in Palaeogene. Schizaeaceae and Polypodiaceae constitute the predominant families. Schizaeoisporites and Polypodiisporites are the best represented genera. However, Lygodiumsporites, Crassoretitriletes, Neyvelisporites, Schizaeoisporites, Pteridacidites and Polypodiisporites taken together, may be considered as characteristic of the Miocene palynoassemblage.