Macrofloral assemblage from the Early Permian Barakar Formation of Singrauli Coalfield, Son–Mahanadi Basin, India

Abstract

A well preserved macroflora belonging to early Permian (Artinskian) Lower Barakar Formation has been reported for the first time from the Bina Colliery in Singrauli Coalfield, Son–Mahanadi Basin. The floral assemblage mostly represented by leaves belong to two orders Glossopteridales and Cordaitales and three genera, namely Gangamopteris, Glossopteris and cf. Noeggerathiopsis. Many ill–preserved impressions representing scale leaves, seeds, fertile structures, branching axes/roots and stem casts have also been found in this assemblage. The macroflora is completely devoid of the groups Lycopodiales, Sphenophyllales, Filicales, Pinales, Ginkgoales, Equisetales and Cycadales. Their absence signifies that vegetated area might not be adequately cool and humid to facilitate the growth of these shade loving plants.