Musostrobocaulon skutchii gen. et sp. nov., a permineralized musaceous inflorescence axis from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan, India

Abstract

Musostrobocaulon skutchii gen. et sp. nov., is a complete inflorescence axis attached with a part of leaf sheath embedded in a chert matrix collected from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan, District Chhindwada, Madhya Pradesh, India. It has a cylindrical, 2.2 x 2.5 cm axis having thin cortex and wide vascular region indistinctly divisible into peripheral and central regions. Typical scitaminean or Musa-type of vascular bundles; large air canals bounded by uniseriate diaphragms; articulated laticifers and latex vessels suggest its affinity with Musa L. (Order-Zingiberales: Family-Musaceae).