Studies in musaceae- 1.Musa Cardiosperma sp.nov., A fossil banana fruit from the Deccan Intertrappean Series, India

Abstract

The paper deals with a petrified fruit of banana from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaon Kalan (22۫1’ N; 79۫11’E) in district Chhindwara, M.P. India. It is the first definite fossil record of Musa L. (sensu CHEESMAN, 1947b). It has been referred to the section Musa (= Eumusa) of the genus Musa L. sensu CHEESMAN, LOC. CIT.). However, being of Late Cretaceous or Early Eocene in age, it shows some morphological differences with the living allied species of the genus. These differences may be of some value in unfolding the evolutionary history of the genus.