Recent advances in studies on fossil Charophyta

Abstract

The main objective of the paper is to give a synoptic review of the more recent works on fossil Charophyta from India, particularly of those that have been published since the last review entitled “Post-Palaeozoic fossil charophyta of India” published in 1982 (Bhatia, 1982). The study of fossil Charophyta in India has remained largely neglected since the first fossil gyrogonite, Chara malcolmsoni, was described (Sowerby, 1839). It is only during the last two decades that the study of fossil charophytes has received a sudden impetus. Although, there is no record of Palaeozoic charophytes from India, the Mesozoic and Cenozoic charophytes are now much better documented.