Two dicotyledonous woods from the late Neogene sediments of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Abstract

Two fossil woods collected from the late Neogene sediments of Rajasthan show best resemblance to the modern genera Terminalia L. and Lagerstroemia L. of the families Combretaceae and Lythraceae, respectively. The fossils belong to the Shumar Formation of Jaisalmer Basin considered as Plio–Pleistocene in age. The habitats of the modern counterparts of the fossils indicate the prevalence of semi–evergreen to deciduous forests with warm and humid climatic conditions in the Jaisalmer District at the time of deposition of the sediments in contrast to the present day xeric vegetation with desertic conditions in the area.