Abstract
Plant fossils collected from the Bijori Formation of Satpura Gondwana Basin are described in detail from the type locality as well as from other exposures. The assemblage is dominated by glossopterid remains with few specimens of pteridophyte of Glossopteris flora viz. Santhalea bansloiensis, Neomariopteris sp., Trizygia speciosa and 20 species of Glossopteris viz., G. angustifolia, G. searsoliensis, G. tenuifolia, G. surangei, G. kamthiensis, G. utkalensis, G. syaldiensis, G. sp. cf G. zeilleri, G. stricta, G. bosei, G. intermittens, G. stenoneura, G. gopadensis, G. wilkinsonii, G. retifera, G. conspicua, G. mohudaensis, G. browniana, G. communis, G. indica, Vertebraria indica, dispersed seeds of Cordaicarpustype and equisetalean axes with or without nodes and internodes.
Bijori bed is correlated with the Raniganj Formation of Damodar Basin but present study indicates that floristically it is distinct. Plant fossils of Raniganj are represented by large size species of Glossopteris with fair representation of arthrophytes and ferns where as, Bijori Formation contains narrow shaped small sized species of Glossopteris and shows poor record of pteridophytes. It has been observed that the assemblage of Bijori is comparable with the plant fossil assemblages of non-coaliferous beds of Kamthi and Pachhwara Formations of Mahanadi, Wardha and Rajmahal Basins which are also considered younger than Raniganj Formation. The occurrence of different types of plant fossils beyond the limit of coal-bearing Raniganj Formation in Bijori, Kamthi and Pachhwara Formations signifies the closing chapter of Permian Glossopteris flora in Peninsular India with the continuation of some forms in the lower Triassic beds.
The non- existence of Dicroidium-pinnule in present assemblage rules out its faithful association with the Triassic flora.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, J.M. and Anderson, H.M. (1985) Palaeoflora of Southern Africa. Prodromous of South African megafloras, Devonian to Lower Cretaceous. A.A. Balkema Publishers, Rotterdam, Netherlands, pp.1–423.
Banerjee, M. (1969) Senotheca murulidihensis, a new Glossopteridean fructification from India associated with Glossopteris taeniopteroides Feistm. Sen. Mem. Volume, Bot. Soc. Bengal, pp.359–368.
Banerjee, M. (1978) Genus Glossopteris Brongniart and its stratigraphic significance in the Palaeozoic of India Part 1- A revisional study of some species of the Genus Glossopteris. Bull. Botan. Soc. Bengal, v.32, pp.81–125.
Banerji, J., Maheshwari, H.K. and Bose, M.N. (1976) Some plant fossils from the Gopad river section near Nidhpur, Sidhi District, Madhya Pradesh. Palaeobotanist, v.23, pp.59–71.
Bharadwaj, D.C., Tewari, R.S. and Anand Prakash (1978) Palynology of Bijori Formation (Upper Permain) in Satpura Gondwana Basin, India. Palaeobotanist, v.25, pp.70–78
Bose, M.N. and Banerji, J. (1976) Some fragmentary plant remains from the Lower Triassic of Auranga Valley, District Palameu, Bihar. Palaeobotanist, v.23, pp.139–144.
Bose, M.N., Banerji, J. and Maithy, P.K. (1977) Some fossil plant remains from Ramkola- Tatapani Coalfields, Madhya Pradesh. Palaeobotanist, v.24, pp.108–117.
Brongniart, A. (1828) Histoire des vegetaux fossiles ou recherches botaniques sur les vegetaux renfermes dans les diverses couches du globe, Paris
Bunbury, C.J.F. (1861) Notes on a collection of fossil plants from Nagpur, Central India. Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. London, v.17, pp.325–346.
Chakraborty, S.M. and Sarkar, S. (2005) Evidence of lacustrine sedimentation in the Upper Permian Bijori Formation, Satpura Gondwana basin: Palaeogeographic and tectonic implications. Jour. Earth System Sci., v.114, pp.303–323.
Chandra, S. (1992) Changing pattern of the Permain Gondwana vegetation. Palaeobotanist, v.40, pp.73–100.
Chandra, S. and Chandra, A. (1987) Vegetational Changes and their climatic implications in coal- bearing Gondwana. Palaeobotanist, v.36, pp.74–86.
Chandra, S. and Prasad, M.N.V. (1981) Fossil plants from Kamthi formation of Maharastra and their biostratigraphic significance. Palaeobotanist, v.28/29 pp.99–121
Chandra, S. and Singh, K.J. (1992) The genus Glossopteris from the Late Permian beds of Handapa, Orissa, India. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., v.75, pp.183–218.
Chandra, S. and Surange, K.R. (1977) Some scale leaves and sporangia from the Raniganj Coalfield, India. Palaeobotanist, v.24, pp.245–253.
Chandra, S. and Surange, K.R. (1979) Revision of the Indian species of Glossopteris. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany Monograph, 2.
Crookshank, H. (1936) Geology of the Northern slopes of the Satpuras between the Morand and Sher Rivers. Mem. Geol. Surv. India, v.66(2), pp.173–272.
Feistmantel, O. (1976) Contribution towards the knowledge of fossil flora in India. Jour. Asiat. Soc. Beng., v.42, pp.329–382.
Feistmantel, O. (1878) Palaeozoische und Mesozoische flora des ostlichen Australiens, Palaeontographica Suppl., v.3, pp.55–130.
Feistmantel, O. (1879a) Palaeontological notes from the Satpura Coal-Basin. Rec. Geol. Surv. India, v.12(1), pp.74–83
Feistmantel, O. (1879b) The Fossil flora of Lower Gondwana-The flora of Talchir- Karharbari beds. Mem. Geol. Surv. India Ser.12, 3(1), pp.1–48.
Feistmantel, O. (1881) The Fossil flora of Gondwana System II. The Flora of the Damuda and Panchet divisions. Mem. Geol. Surv. of India. Palaeotol. Indica Ser.12, 3(3), pp.78–149.
Fox, C.S., (1934) The Lower Gondwana coalfields of India. Mem. Geol. Surv. India, v.59, pp.243–315.
Lele, K.M. (1963) Studies in the Indian Middle Gondwana Flora-2. Platyspermic seeds and megaspores impressions from the South Rewa Gondwana Basin. Palaeobotanist, v.11, pp.13–18.
Lele, K.M. (1976) Palaeoclimatic implications of Gondwana flora. Geophytology, v.6, pp.207–229.
Maheshwari, H.K. (1992) Provincialism in Gondwana floras. Palaeobotanist, v.40, pp.101–127.
Maheshwari, H.K. and Bajpai, U. (2001) Phytostratigraphical succession in the Glossopteris flora of India. Geociencias, v.6, pp.22–34.
Maheshwari, H.K. and Prakash, G. (1965) Studies in the Glossopteris Flora of India-21. Plant megafossils from the Lower Gondwana exposures along Bansloi River in Rajmahal Hills, Bihar. Palaeobotanist, v.13, pp.115–228.
Maithy, P.K. (1974) A revision of Lower Gondwana Sphenopteris from India. Palaeobotanist, v.21, pp.70–80.
Maithy, P.K. (1977) Three new fern fronds from the Glossopteris flora of India. Palaeobotanist, v.24, pp.266–278.
Maithy, P.K. (1978) Further observations on Indian Lower Gondwana Shenophyllales. Palaeobotanist, v.25, pp.266–278.
Medlicott, H.B. (1873) Notes on Satpura Coal Basin. Mem. Geol. Surv. India, v.10, pp.1–188.
Murty, B.V.R. and Rao, C.M. (1996) A new lithostratigraphy classification of Permian (Lower Gondwana) succession of Pranhita-Godavari basin with reference to Ramagundam coalbelt, Andhra Pradesh, India. Gondwana Nine, v. 1, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., pp.67–78
Pal, P.K., Chakraborty, U., Ghosh, A.K. and Ghosh, A. (1991) Triassic plant megafossils from the Kamthi Formation of Talcher Coalfield, India- A new report. Indian Jour. Geol., v.63, pp.119–125.
Pal, P.K. and Ghosh, A.K. (1997) Megafloral zonation of Permian - Triassic sequence in the kamthi Formation, Talcher Coalfield, Orissa. Palaeobotanist, v.46, pp.81–87.
Pande, B.C. (1987) Kamthi: A new concept. Palaeobotanist, v.36, pp.51–57.
Pant, D.D. and Gupta, K.L. (1968) Cuticular structure of some Indian Lower Gondwana species of Glossopteris Brongniart-Part 1. Palaeontographica, v.124B, pp.45–81.
Poscoe, E.H. (1959) Manual of Geology of India and Burma, 3rd edition, 2, Govt. of India press, Calcutta.
Pant, D.D. and Singh, R.S. (1974) On the stem attachment of Glossopteris and Gangamopteris leaves. Part-2. Structural features. Palaeontographica, v.147B, pp.42–73.
Prasad, B. (1985) A new lithostratigraphic unit in the Lower Gondwana succession of Pachhwara Coalfield, Rajmahal hills, India. Geophytology, v.15, pp.110–112.
Prasad, B., Shukla V.D. and Maithy, P.K. (1987) Megafloristics of the Lower Gondwana succession in Pachhwara Coalfield, Bihar. Gondwana Geol. Mag., v. 2, pp. 17–29.
Raja Rao, C.S. (1983) Coal Resources of Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. Coalfields of India. Bull. Geol. Surv. India, Ser. A, no.45, pp.1–204.
Ram-Awatar (1988) Palylonological details of Supra- Barakar Formation in Son Valley Graben. Palaeobotanist, v.36, pp.133–137.
Ray, S., Chakroborty, T. (2002) Lower Gondwana fluvial succession of the Pench- Kanhan valley, India: Stratigraphy architecture and depositional controls. Sedimentary Geol., v.151, pp.243–271.
Rigby, J.F., Maheshwari, H.K. and Schopf, J.M. (1980) Revision of Permain plants collected by J.D. Dana during 1839–1840 in Australia. Publication 376, Palaeontological paper 47, Geol. Surv. Qld. Australia, pp.1–25.
Royale, J.F. (1839) Illustration of the botany and the other branches of Natural History of the Himalayan Mountains etc. London (1833–1839).
Sarate, O.S. and Patil, G.V. (1994) Palynostratigraphy of the Bijori sediments, Satpura Basin, India. Geophytology, v.23, pp.197–201.
Sastry, M.V.A., Acharya, S.K., Shah, S.C., Satsangi, P.P. Ghosh, S.C. Raha, P.K., Singh, G. and Ghosh, R.N. (1977) Stratigraphic Lexicon of Gondwana Formations of India. Geol. Surv. India Misc. Publ., no.36, pp.1–170.
Schimper, W.P. (1869) Traite de Paleontologie Vegetal ou la Flore du Monde Primitif dans ses rapports avec les Formations Geologiques et la Flore du Monde Actual, 1. Balliere, Paris, 740p.
Singh, K.J. and Chandra, S. (1987) Some new species of Glossopteris from the Kamthi Formation of Handapa, Orissa. Geophytology, v.17, pp.39–55.
Srivastava, A.K. (1997) Late Palaeozoic floral succession in India. Proc. XII Int. Cong. Carb. Perm., Krakow, Poland, pp. 269–272.
Srivastava, A.K. (2006) Morphological diversity in Glossopterid leaves. In: Changing scenario in palaeobotany and allied subjects - Diamond jubilee International conference at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, on 15–17 November, 2006, p.153 (Abstract).
Srivastava, A.K. and Ram-Awatar (2002) Palynological assemblages from Motur clay bed of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India. Geophytology, v.31, pp.81–86.
Srivastava, A.K. and Agnihotri, D. (2009) Palaeobotanical perspective of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India. In: A. Kumar, et al. (Eds.), Earth System Sciences, v.2, Concept Publication, New Delhi, pp.580–595.
Srivastava, P. N. (1956) Studies in the Glossopteris flora of India-4. Glossopteris, Gangamopteris and Palaeovittaria from the Raniganj Coalfield. Palaeobotanist, v.5, pp.1–45.
Srivastava, S.C. and Jha, N. (1995) Palynostratigraphy and correla tion of Permian-Triassic sediments in Budharam area, Godavari Graben, India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.46, pp.647–653.
Srivastava, S.C. and Jha, N. (1997) Status of Kamthi Formation: lithological and palaeobotanical evidences. Palaeobotanist, v.46, pp.88–96.
Surange, K.R. (1975) Indian Lower Gondwana floras: A review. In: K.S.W. Campbell (Ed.), Gondwana Geology, 3rd Gondwana Symposium, Canberra, 1973, pp.135–147.
Tewari, R. (2007) The Glossopteris flora from the Kamptee Coalfield, Wardha Basin, Maharashtra, India. Palaeontographica, v.277, pp.43–64.
Tewari, R. and Srivastava, A.K. (1996) Plant fossils from the Barakar Formation of Jharia Coalfield, Bihar. Geophytology, v.25, pp.35–39.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Srivastava, A.K., Agnihotri, D. Upper Permian plant fossil assemblage of Bijori Formation: A case study of Glossopteris flora beyond the limit of Raniganj Formation. J Geol Soc India 76, 47–62 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-010-0082-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-010-0082-0