First record of a lauraceous wood from the Palaeogene sediments of western India

Abstract

A fossil wood of Lauraceae resembling those of the modern genera Cinnamomum Spreng. and Litsea Lam. is described from the Vagadkhol Formation of Bharuch District, Gujarat considered to be Palaeocene-Early Eocene in age. This is the first record of a fossil wood of this family from western India. In view of the meagre fossil records known from the Palaeogene sediments of western India, the present finding becomes important as it enriches the palaeofloristics. Its presence, along with the already described fossils indicates warm and humid conditions in the region during the depositional period in contrast to the present day dry climate.