Two new dichotomously branched infructescences, a gynoclad and an androclad, are reported from shales associated with the Lalmatia Coalseam in Hura Coalfield, Rajmahal Basin, Bihar. The branched infructescences though are found in association with ginkgophyte leaves, yet their affinities seem to be with the pteridospermous groups.

The northern margin of the Gondwanaland along the Indian block has been debated for some time now. According to the earlier view the northern margin ran along the Indus-Yarlung-Zangbo Suture. Newly acquired data has been interpreted to show that eastern Gondwana was much bigger than generally believed. In the present work we analyze the floras that grew around the northern margin of the eastern Gondwana assembly to see if the distribution of plant fossils also provides supporting evidence for a ‘greater’ India. The floras that have been examined in the present synthesis originate in the Permian of New Guinea, Sumatra (Indonesia), Malaysia, Thailand, Tibet, Northern China, Kashmir (India), Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Turkey and Mesozoic of Ladakh (India), Bhutan and Nepal. The analysis shows that though some of the floral assemblages contain certain elements that could be of Gondwana affinity yet the overall composition of almost all the floral assemblages, except the one from Kashmir, is basically Cathaysian. Whether these Cathaysian type floral assemblages occupied the northern margin of the eastern Gondwana or they flourished on the southern margin of Laurasia, or they grew all along the shores of the Tethys, has to be examined. The latitudinal variation in vegetation, however, does not seem to explain the intermixing of elements of different floral provinces in the coastal vegetation on the two shores of a fairly wide, though shallow, Tethys as in Kashmir and in southern Tibet. Even if both these regions were on the same side of Tethys, intermixing of Gondwana and Cathaysia floras is not explained as no direct migratory routes from Laurasia are available in Gondwana assemblies. This coupled with the occurrence of northern Mesozoic flora at Fukche, Ladakh, and near Lhasa indicates that the Indian Gondwana did not extend north of the Indus-Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone.

Epiphyllous fungi belonging to Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes are recorded. Microthyriaceous germlings have been found on the lower cuticle of a Glossopteris species from the basal Barakar sediments of Saharjuri Outlier. Microthyriaceous stromata have been found on the lower cuticle of Thinnfeldia indica Feistmantel and a leaf apparently of Ctenozamites type, both from Early Cretaceous of Cauvery Basin. Mycelia sterilia have also been recorded on the lower cuticle of Thinnfeldia indica. On the basis of the occurrences of Microthyriaceae, a tropical to subtropical climate is deduced for the Early Cretaceous Period of India.

A new taxon of ariculatae, closely resembling the characteristic Barakar form Lelstotheca is reported from the shales associated with Nega Coal of Raniganj Formation in Raniganj Coalfield. It comprises linear-lanceolate leaves with mucronate apices in clusters of about 18 in each whorl. Leaves are free throughout and apparently do not form a sheath or disc.

The nomenclatural status of Kashmiropteris meyenii gen. et sp. nov. proposed by Kapoor is formalised. On the basis of gross morphological features it is suggested that the taxon may have cycadalean affinities.

An abnormal megaspore with a tetra radiate mark of cytokinesis is reported from the Lukuga Group of zaire, Central Africa. The sporoderm of the megaspore shows effects of bio-degradation probably resulting due to bacteria.

There has been a running controversy about the independent taxonomic status of the genus Trizygia vis-a·vis Sphenophyllum. The basic organization of the foliage shoot in both genera is apparently similar, except for the trizygoid leaf whorls in the former. The trizygoid leaf whorls are, however, not unknown in Sphenophyllum. The two genera cannot be compared at the level of the anatomy of the axes or the organization of the fertile shoot as this information is not available for Trizygia. The venation pattern in leaves of Trizygia has been analysed in detail with a view to comparing it with that of Sphenophyllum, when that information is forthcoming. The parameters chosen for analysis include length, width and area-index of leaves and number of dichotomies, ultimates and dichotomy levels.

Fossil woods are rather scarce in Lower Gondwana. A large percentage of woods so far reported belong to Raniganj or equivalent formations. The two new species of wood reported here also originate in the Raniganj Formation. Lepekhina’s circumscription of the genus Araucarioxylon is not accepted as it overlaps the diagnosis of the genus Dadoxylon. Her assignment of D. brandlingii (Lindley & Hutton) Endlicher as lectogenotype of Dadoxylon is not acceptable because the correct type species is D. withamii (Lindley & Hutton) Endlicher. Zalesskioxylon zambesiensis Maithy has been re-investigated and found to be conspecific with Australoxylon teixeirae Marguerier. The genera Parapalaeoxylon Prasad and Kamthioxylon Mahabale & Vagyani are probably superfluous.