The Early Cretaceous flora from the Gangapur Formation (Pranhita-Godavari Basin, east coast of India) was studied. Its plant diversity and abundance patterns were examined, and its palaeoecology and environment were interpreted, based on the micro- and macrofloras and sedimentological inputs. The flora is rich and diverse, and consists of bryophytes, pteridophytes, pteridosperms, gymnosperms and angiosperms. The microflora shows higher taxonomic diversity and abundance than the macroflora. Overall, the study indicated an abundance of conifers, particularly Podocarpaceae. The taphocoenosis of the flora comprises local to regional elements derived from riverbank, floodplain, backswamp and valley settings. Taken together, the data on the flora and sedimentology suggest that warm and humid environments prevailed.
This study presents the first report of angiosperm macrofossil assemblage from the Early Cretaceous sediments of India, containing a fruit, a spike, a petal, leaves, and an axis from the Krishna Godavari Basin. This assemblage provides clues to angiosperm evolution and ecology during the Early Cretaceous of India. The described enigmatic forms are comparable to fruits of Trapa, and palm leaves and spikes of Potamogeton. The fossil material also includes ribbon-like leaves with a small axis; fossil remains suggest affinity with the monocotyledon group and support recent morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies to establish the divergence of this group from dicotyledons, during the early Cretaceous. Fossils described in the present study suggest an affinity for an aquatic environment that appears to be ideal for some early angiosperms.
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