The miospore genera in the coals of Raniganj stage (Upper Permian), India

Abstract

43 miospore genera have been referred to in this treatise, out of which 15 genera are new to science. These have been diagnosed, described and compared with morphographically comparable other spore genera. The following genera are new - Eupunctisporites gen. nov., Micrpbaculispora gen. nov., Microfovealatispora gen. nov., Indospora gen. nov., Gondisporites gen. nov., Densipollenites gen. nov., Striomonosaccites gen. nov., Distriomonosaccites gen. nov., Verticipollenites gen. nov., Lahirites gen. nov., Hindipollenites gen. nov., Faunipollenites gen. nov., Striapollenites gen. nov., Distriatites gen. nov., and Tumoripollenites gen. nov. Besides these Striatites, Lunatisporites, Striatopodocarpites and Sulcatisporites have been emended. Some supra-generic taxa have also been created such as Siriasacciti, and Rectistriati. From this study some new morphographic features have come to light, e.g. the presence of +- triradiate muri on distal face of a triangular trilete spore; sculptured and zonate saccus-like body in a trilete spore, the occurrence of striated central budies in monosaccate forms: the proximal surface of central bodies in disaccate grains bearing horizontal striations also crossed with vertical, connecting striations in many forms; occurrence of only vertical striations on the proximal side of central body in some saccate grains; occurrence of striations on the proximal as well as distal faces of the central body (1) in the same direction or (2) at right angles to one another in saccate grains. It has also been discovered that the proximal exine of central body in saccate grains may be smooth or microverrucose with indistinct, intrapunetate or intramicroreticulate structure. Bisaceate grains comparable to some modern members of Podocarpaceae are richly represented and non-saccate pollen grains morphographically similar to those of some living species of Ephedra and Welwitschia are also present in the horizon.