Bengalia raniganjensis, a new sphenopsid from the raniganj formation, upper permian

Abstract

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.

Alien elements in the Gondwana Flora of India

“…Articulated leaves united or free near the nodal axes in Lelstotheca and Benga/ea are comparable with the foliage pattern of Annularia/Asterophyllites (Maheshwari & Srivastava, 1987;Maheshwari, Singh & Bajpai, 1989). Leafless stem axes of Phyllotheca and Schizoneura described under Angaran genus, Paracalamites Zalessky by Rigby (1966) and the records of Barakaria in the Indian and Angara floras (Meyen, 1969) haVing possible affinity with autophyllites of Boureau (1964) supports the existence of such forms beyond the limits of Gondwana.…”

Provincialism in Gondwana floras

“…Equivalent formations are Nishatbagh and Mamal (Kashmir Valley, Pir Panjal and ParauthochtOne), KhelongjRilu (eastern Himalaya). After the initial report of plant fossils from the Raniganj Coalfield (Brongniart, 1828), mega-and micro-fossils have been reported from almost all the horizons (see Lakhanpal, Maheshwari & Awasthi, 1976;Chandra & Singh, 1989;Maheshwari, Singh & Bajpai, 1989;Bajpai & Tewari, 1990;Chandra, Srivastava & Singh, 1990;Prasad & Maithy, 1990;Singh & Bajpai, 1990;Singh & Chandra, 1990;Bajpai & Maheshwari, 1991;Chandra & Tewari, 1991;Srivastava, 1991;Kapoor, Bajpai & Maheshwari, 1992;Maheshwari & Bajpai, 1992, etc. ).…”