Seeds, Fructifications, Bracts and Calamitalean Axes from the Karanpura and Bokaro Group of Coalfields

Paiaeobotallisl 51 (2002) . 73-79 0031-0174/2002173-79 $2.00

Seeds, fructifications, bracts and calamitalean axes from the Karanpura and Bokaro Group of coalfields

SHIV MOHAN SINGH

Birbal Salmi institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, india. Current address: 238, Motimahal Birla Hall, 2 Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226 001.

(Received 07 December 2000; revised version accepted 23 April 2(02)

ABSTRACT

Singh SM 2002. Seeds, fructifications, bracts and calamitalean axes from the Karanpura and Bokaro Group of coalfields. Palaeobotanist 5 I : 73-79.

The paper deals with fructifications of glossopterids (viz. GOllophylloides sp., Scutum sp., Ortokaria sp., & Bokarospermum gen. nov.), seeds (Cordaicarpus), bracts and calamitalean axes found in a detached condition from the Barakar Fonnation of the Karanpura and Bokaro Group of coalfields. Vertebraria axes were also observed from the Rikba plant bed of North Karanpura Coalfield. These mentioned taxa are only a small part of an extensive and significant flora of Karanpura and Bokaro Group of coalfields.

Key-words-Fructification, Bokarospermum, Calamitalean, Cordaicarpus.

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INTRODUCTION glossopterid fructification was described and illustrated by Feistmantel (1881) as Dictyopteridium sporiferum who thought HE term glossopterid is applied to the Lower Gondwana it to be a fern. Zeiller (1902-1903) reported Ottokaria T leaf genera Gangamopteris, Glossopteris, Palaeovittaria, (Feistmantelia) bengalensis, now known as an ovuliferous and similar leaves, which share similar epidermal features and capitulum with a long stock and subtended by a glossopterid are associated with comparable fructifications. The first leaf, probably Glossopteris communis (Banerjee, 1978). Bose

© Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, India 74 THE PALAEOBOTANIST re-examined the specimen of Zeiller, i.e., Ouokaria The study of large numbers of such scale leaves has revealed bengalensis. From these observations he convinced that the significant characteristic features worthy of generic recognition three forms are related to each other. But Bose did not agree (Banerjee, 1984). The scale leaves which occur singly have with Zeiller's observation because he had found that 0. been recognised under the new genus GondwQnolepis. by bengalensis is definitely attached to the midrib of a Banerjee (1984). Calamitalean and Verlebraria axes were also Glossopteris indica type of leaf (in Plumstead, 1956 on pp. found in large numbers in these coalfields. 232-233). White (1908) established the genus Arberia for "broadly incised, coriaceous or striate and thick nerved scale MATERIAL & METHODS leaves whose distant recurvate and truncate lobes appear to owe their abrupt or even slightly ragged terminations to the The material is preserved as impressions and detachment of some sort of bodies, presumably reproductive compressions on grey carbonaceous shales. Most of the in nature". On the basis of association a relationship between specimens belong to the Barakar Formation of the South Arberia and Gangamopteris was presumed. Rigby (1972) Karanpura, North Karanpura and West Bokarocoalfields. One interpreted Arberia as a fructification "that bore large numbers Vertebraria cast has also been collected from Ihe Talchir of naked ovules on pinnate branchlets arranged laterally along Formation of the North Karanpura Coalfield. a forked rachis". Plumstead (1952, 1956, 1958) described and The collected specimens have been cleaned, sorted OUI, illustrated a large number of fructifications in organic photographed and lodged in the repository section of Birbal connection with leaves of Gangamopleris, Glossopteris and Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India. Palaeovittaria. Several other fructifications of the glossopterids, were described by Surange and Maheshwari SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS (1970), Banerjee (1969, 1984, 1991), Surange and Chandra (l973a, b, 1975), Kov'acs-Enro'dy (1974), Chandra and Surange Glossopterid Fructifications (I 977a, b, c), Pant and Nautiyal (1984), Anderson and Anderson (1985), and others. The taxonomic position and Genus-GONOPHYLLOIDES Maheshwari 1968 phylogenetic relationship of different types of glossopterid Plumstead 1952) fructification have been analysed by Maheshwari (1990). (=Cistella In the present collection only a few fructifications in GONOPHYLLOIDES sp. detached condition, are present. These are referable to the PI. 11,2 genera Gonophylloides, Scutum, Ottokaria and Bokarospermum gen. nov. Specimen No.-BSIP 38816 (214578), BSIP 38856 (2014578) Feistmantel (1879, 1881, 1882, 1886) reported a number of Locality-Sirka Colliery, South Karanpura Coalfield. seeds under the genera Carpolithes, Samaropsis, Horizon-Barakar Formation. Cardiocarpum, etc. from the Talchir, Karharbari and Raniganj Plumstead (1952) instituted the genus Cislella for a formations. Subsequently, numerous other seeds were certain type of fructification found 'attached' to the midrib of described under th~genera Cardiocarpon, Cardiocarpus, Glossopleris leaves. Maheshwari (1968) observed that the Cycadospermum, Cornucarpus, Indocarpus, Nummulo name Cislella was preoccupied and hence he instituted a new spermum, Eucerospermum, etc. name Gonophylloides for Plumstead's specimens. Plumstead The dispersed bracts are now accepted as part of some (1956) interpreted Cislella as a female bivalved structure ferti Ie organs of Glossopterids. These are deciduous in nature comprising a fertile head and a sterile bract. Many later workers and occur singly as protective structures of fertile organs. thought it to be of strobiloid nature (Surange & Maheshwari,

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1,2. Gonophylloides (= Cislella) sp., Specimen No. BSIP 38816 (21 Formation, Jharkhand Colliery, West Bokaro Coalfield. 4578), BSIP 38856 (20/4578), Barakar Formation, Sirka Col- Jharkhand. x nat. size. liery, South Karanpura Coalfield, Bihar. x nat. size. 6. Ouokaria sp.. Specimen No. BSIP 38822-A (1/5007). Jharkhand 3. Scutum sp., Specimen No. BSIP 38857 (S/4578), Barakar For- Colliery, West Bokaro Coalfield, Jharkhand. x nat size. mation, Shales associated with Naditoli Seam, Sirka Colliery, 10. Calamitalean axis, Specimen No. BSIP 38862 (9/4739). Barakar South Karanpura Coalfield, Bihar. x nat. size. Formation, Kuju Colliery, Wesl Bokaro Coalfield. Bihar. x nat 4, 8. Bracts. Specimen No. BSIP 38858 (1/5007), BSIP 38859 (1/ size. 5064) Barakar Formation, Jharkhand Colliery, West Bokaro 11. Calamitalean axis, Specimen No. BSIP 38863 (2/5007B). Coalfield, Jharkhand. x nat. size. Barakar Formation, Gidi- C Colliery, South Karanpura Coal 5, 9. Cardiocarpus sp., Specimen No. BSIP 38860 A & B (2/4753), field, Bihar. x nat. size. Barakar Formation, Religara Colliery, South Karanpura Coal- 12. A cast of Vertebraria axis, Specimen No. BSIP 38864 (6/4993). field, Bihar. x 3. Talchir Formation, Chano-Rikba Basin. North Karanpura Coal 7. Cardiocarpus sp.. Specimen No. BSIP 38861(1/5007), Barakar field, Bihar. x nat. size. en a ..J u.l u: ..J ..: 0u X u.. 0 ;0'..' c. ~. I ::J ! " 0 e<: CJ 0 e<: ..: ~ 0 co a z ..: -W ..: e<: ::J c. S z Q.. ..: e<: ..: ~ u.l :c f- 2: 0 e<: u.. U 0::; en a u.l u.l en I :c CJ ~ en 76 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

1970; Surange & Chandra, 1974, and others). Of late opinion is (1920) observed that it "consists ofa stalk attached in a slightly emerging that the female glossopterid fructification may be of eccentric position to an almost orbicular lamina 2.5 cm in foliar nature, bearing ovules on one surface only (Maheshwari, diameter with sub-acute teeth and traversed by numerous 1965; Gould & Delevoryas, 1977; Maheshwari, 1990). radially disposed irregular striations. The lamina is slightly Organisationally there is not much difference between concave and has the form ofa shallow cup. The surface features Dictyopteridium, Scutum and GOl1ophylloides. The main are more like that of a bract than a regular vei ned leaf". Later difference lies in their shape and nature of ovule "bases". Pant and Nautiyal (1966) and Mukherjee et al. (1966) commented Present specimens are incomplete, measuring 3-5-5 cm in on the connection of Ottokaria to a leaf of Glossopteris. length and 1'3-2 cm in width. At the base is a distinct mark of Surange and Chandra (1975), Pant and Nautiyal (1984). the stalk. The surface is studded with a large number of Maheshwari (1990), and others have also put forth their ideas overlapping, more or less polygonal-circular, elevated areas about Ottokaria Zeiller. which appear to have been arranged in close spirals. These probably represent bases of ovules/seeds. BOKAROSPERMUM gen. nov. Diagnosis-Semicircular concave disc presents at the Genus--SCUTUM Plumstead 1952 median part of leaves. Size variable; 0'5-1 cm, 2-3 labium like SCUTUMsp. structures surrounds the concave disc, probably it bears reproductive organs. At the point of fructification the midrib PI. 1.3 is not clear. There is only one fructification on one leaf. Specimen No.-BSIP 38857 (S/4578). Locality-Sirka Colliery, South Karanpura Coalfield. BOKAROSPERMUM MAHESHWARI sp. nov. Horizon-Barakar Formation. PI.2·1-4 This genus was established by Plumstead for a type of reproductive organ found attached to Glossopteris leaves or Specimen Nos.-BSIP 38864 (30/5004), BSIP 38865 (13/ unattached. According to her "Scutum is a bilaterally 4746), BSIP 38866 (1/5004), BSIP 38867 (16/5004). symmetrical, two sided cupule usually borne on its own short Locality-Jharkhand Colliery, West Bokaro Coalfield. pedicel which grows, according to the species, from the midrib Horizon-Barakar Formation. or from the top of the petiole of a leaf which in every other Holotype-Specimen No. BSIP 38866. respect resembles the vegetative leaves of a species of Description-Fructification . Glossopteris. The fructification is believed to be axillary but Diagnosis-As generic diagnosis. the pedicel is adnate for the greater part of its length 2 cm, Remarks-Many leaves of Glossopteris spp. showing width I·5 cm. On the out side each hal f consists of a central median location ofa fructification type not reported previously. part, or head, which is thick or raised and has fan-shaped In overall features it does not show resemblance with other venation, and a surrounding wing which is often fluted, striated fructifications. The fructification looks to be sufficiently and has a dentate margin. The adaxial half called the fertile distinctive and interesting to be named as BokarospemwlI! half, bears a number of small oval sacs embedded in the tissue gen. nov. Various BSIP Staff and John Rigby's recommendation of the central head, whilst in the vast majority of cases the also supported it as new taxon. Thus BokarospermulII opposite abaxial half is empty and apparently only protective". maheshwari sp. nov. is erected as a new species.

Genus--OITOKARIA Zeiller 1902-1903 Seeds OITOKARIA sp. Genus--CORDAICARPUS Geinitz 1862 PI. 1·6 CORDAICARPUS sp. Specimen No.-BSIP 38822-A U/5OO7). PI. 1·5,7,9 Locality-Jharkhand Colliery, West Bokaro Coalfield. Specimen No-BSIP 38860 (214753), BSIP 38861(1/5007). Horizon-Barakar Formation. Locality-Religara Colliery, South Karanpura Coalfield, Zeiller (1902-1903) described a fructi fication consisting Jharkhand Colliery, West Bokaro Coalfield. of a lobed terminal disc and a slender stalk. Seward and Sahni

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1-4. Leaves of Glossopteris spp. Specimen Nos. BSIP 38865 (30/5004), BSIP 38866 (13/4746), BSJP 38867 (115004), BSJP 38868 (16/5004). showing location of Bokarospermum fructification type not reported so for, Barakar Formation, Jharkhand Colliery, West Bokaro Coalfield, Jharkhand. x nat. size. (/) 0 ....l l1.l ii; « 0 u u.. 0 0- ~ 0 0:: Q 0 0::« ~ 0 t::l 0 Z « M « 0:: ~ § 0- Q" Z« 0::« ~ l1.l :r: f- :2 0 0:: u.. u 0:; vi 0 lJ.l l1.l (/) I ::r: Q ~ v: 78 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Horizon-Barakar Formation. Locality-Lurunga Nala, Chano-Rikba Basin, North This type of seed was described by Zeiller (1902-1903) as Karanpura Coalfield; Saunda Colliery, South Karanpura Cordaicarpus sp. Seward and Sahni (1920) described them as Coalfield, South Tapin and Jharkhand Collieries, West Bokaro Cordaicarpus sp. cf C. cordai (Geinitz) on the basis of an Coalfield. external morphological resemblance with the northern species. Horizon-Talchir and Barakar formations. However, the carboni sed seed coat of the northern species Description- Length 5'7-24 cm; width 004-3'7 em. shows reticulate meshes which are absent in southern forms.

Description-Seeds platyspermic, pear-shaped, base Acknowledgements-I am thankful to Dr f-1K Maheshwari for cordate, apex rounded, 0,5-0,9 cm long, 0,2-0,5 cm broad; a criticaLLygoing through the manuscript. I am also thankjulto Professor narrow border (? sarcotesta), nearly uniform in width, encircles Ansill/ K Sinha. Director, Birbal Salmi l/lstitute of Palaeobotwl\". the sclerotesta. Lucknowfor providing necessary research facilities.

Bracts or Scale leaves REFERENCES PI. 104,8 Anderson JM & Anderson HM 1985. Palaeotlora of Southern Africa. Specimen Nos.-BSIP 38858 (1 1/5004), BSIP 38859 (12/ Prodomus of South African megafloras Devonian to Lower 5(04). Cretaceous. A.A. Balkema. Rotterdam: 1-424. Locality-Jharkhand Colliery, West Bokaro Coalfield. Banerjee M 1969. Senotheca mumlidihensis. a new Glossopteride

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