the Palaeobolanisl, 31(3): 208-212, 1984.
UTKALIA DICHO TONIA GEN. E1' SP. NOV.- A FOSSIL FRUCTIFICATION FROM THE KAMTHI FORMATION OF ORISSA, INDIA
SHAlLA CHANDRA Sirbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
ABSTRACT Utkalia dicholoma gen. et sp. nov. is a possible seed bearing fossil fructification. The main axis of the fructification is dichotomously branched, each dichotomy bearing mostly alternatel alral branches. The lateral branches further dichotomize and the altimate branches bear seeds singly. Key-words - Utkalia, Pteridosperm, Fructification, Kamthi Formation, Upper Permian (India).
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~ ~ r.r~ ~ ~ ~ ~'Ii"~ ~ :S1\\'l>lclGI .,-q q .,-q ;;rrfu I:f'll ~T mfucr ~I 5Kil''Ii"fum;;fr mlID r.rfa-'foCf"l:C';'Ii"I" mlIDIT '!i"T fi:I;<::C';'Ii"GlH fumorif ~iJr~ iJ~~ff!i'li"r"l:;;r;ff!iclfii r.rr.CiIf~rlIDC';'Ii"ciTor if '1'f"{'fFcm ~T;;rrffi ~I INTRODUCTION mostly alternate branches on either side, each alternate branch repeatedly dichoto EVERAL sporangia and seed bearing mizing, each ultimate branch bearing a single fructifications were described from terminal seed-like body without any scale Sthe Kamthi Formation in Handappa or bract. Village belonging to Dhenkanal District of Description - There are four specimens Orissa (Surange & Maheshwari, 1970; in the collection. They are brown impres Surange & Chandra, 1973, 1974 in a sions on a buff coloured hard, fine grained, series of papers). The seed bearing genera clayey shale. One of the most complete so far reported from this locality are Partha, specimens with its counterpart is best Denkania, Lidgettonia, lndocarpus, Scutum preserved. The main axis is 3 cm long and and Cistella. Of these fructifications, some 1 mm broad. Each dichotomy is about are found attached with Glossopteris leaves 3.5 cm in length and has 10-15 mostly alter while others in detached condition and nate branches which further dichotomize accordingly their affinities are related. once or several times (PI. 1, fig. 1). Each In the present paper a new type of seed ultimate branch bears a single terminal bearing fructification is described and its seed-like body without any scale or bract affinities and relationships are discussed. between them. The seed-like bodies are unwinged, 2.5 mm long and 1-1.5 mm broad Genus - Utkalia gen. nov. (PI. I, fig. 2). I have every reason to believe that these Type Sp~cies- Utkalia dichotoma gen. fruiting bodies are seeds. This is suggested et sp. nov. by the facts that (i) these excellently PI. 1, figs 1, 2; Text-figs 1, 2 preserved seed-like bodies are of the same size as the numerous scattered seeds Diagnosis - Main axis dichotomously found eleswhere on the shales in abundance, branched, primary branches giving out (ii) the sporangia so far known from the 208 CHANDRA - UTKALlA DICHOTOMA GEN, ET SP, NOV, FROM KAMTHI FORMATION 209 ~~.;.~~ ~~(i< .~tr ~' ~'" ,/ TExt-FIG. 1 - Actual specimen drawn to show the dichotomy of [he main axis and the manner of seed attachment on the ultimate branchlets, ;< 2, Glossopteris flora are different in shape ment was not clear but they thought that and much smaller in size. the seeds were possibly borne on a pellate Holotype - B.S.I.P. specimen no. 35470. expansion or the scale-like extensions of Horizon - Kamthi Formation, Upper the branchlets. Utkalia is distinct and Permian. different from Wankiea in having a dicho Locality - Near Handappa Village, tomous primary branching of the axis and Hinjrida Ghati, Dhenkanal District, Orissa, singly borne terminal seeds on the ultimate India. branches. Comparison - Utkalia dichotoma gen. et Delevoryas and Gould (1971) described sp. nov. is unlike any fructification known an unusual fossil fructification from the so far in the Glossopteris flora. The only Jurassic of Oaxaca, Mexico and named comparable genus is Wankiea, instituted it as Perezlaria oaxacensis. This fructifica by Lacey and Huard-Moine (1966) from tion had branches arising from all sides, the Karroo flora in the Wankie District Some laterals once forked, bearing short of southern Rhodesia. Wankiea bondii is appendages usually tapering distally, each a seed bearing fructification consisting of with 5-8 sac-like bodies borne in a whorl longitudinally striated axis bearing lateral at the apex. The genus Utkalz'a is distinct branches of at least two orders probably in having dichotomous branching system and pinnately arranged. The ultimate branchlet singly borne terminal seeds. Moreover, form lateral clusters where each one of the the authors have interpreted these sac-like 4-6 branchlet ends in an ovate seed-like bodies as the sporangia showing dehiscence body. According to Lacey and Huard Ii ne. Nystroemia pectiformis Halle (1929) Moine (1966) the manner of seed attach- described from the permian of China is 210 THE PALAEOBOTANIST TEXT-FIG. 2 - Restoration of Ulkalia dicholoma gen. et sp. nov. drawn on the basis of specimen no. 35470, x 2. based on portions of a branch system that bearing nature could belong to some has the general organization of a fern frond. gymnosperm. Due to the lack of any The ultimate subdivisions divide several associated sporophyll it seems quite times, each branchlet terminating in a small reaonable that this fructification has pteri two horned body about 3 mm long that dospermous affinities. From the same is presumed to be a seed. assemblage we have already described a Thus, apart from some sImilarities with number of pteridospermous fructifications the known fructifications like Wankiea and like Partha, Denkania and Lidgettonia and Perezlaria, the differences are pronounced Utkalia is one more type added to the list. enough to distinguish Utkalia dichotoma Actual connection or at least some more from any other known fructification. reliable circumstantial evidences will be Derivation of the Name - The genus is required before we can be sure of its named after the ancient State Utkal which affinities with a particular leaf genus. is presently known as Orissa. Affinities - it is interesting to speculate with available evidences about the relation ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ship of Utkalia dichotoma. In the same assemblage I found the vegetative forms I would like to express my gratitude to of lycopods, Equisetales, Sphenophyllales, Dr H. K. Maheshwari for his important Filicales, cycads and glossopterids. The suggestions and critically reyjsing the present fructification on the basis of its manuscript. Thanks are due to Dr Shyam peculiar organization and possible seed C. Srivastava for some fruitful discussions. CHANDRA- UTKALlA DICHOTOMA GEN. ET SP. NOV. FROM KAMTHI FORMATION 211 REFERENCES DELEVORYAS, T. & GOULD, R. E. (1971). An SURANGE, K. R. & SHAlLA CHANDRA (1973b). unusual fossil fructification from the Jurassic of Denkania indica gen. et sp. nov. a glossopteridean Oaxaca, Mexico. ArneI'. J. Bot., 58 (7): 616-620. fructification from the Lower Gondwana of HALLE, T. G. (1929). Some seed bearing pterido Indi a. Palaeobolanisl, 40 (1): 264-268. sperms from the Permian of China. K. svenska SURANGE, K. R. & CHANDRA, S. (1973c). Parlha, VelenskAad. Handl., 6: 8): 1-24. a new type of female fructification from the LACEY, W. S. & HUARD-MOINE, D. (1966). Karroo Lower Gondwana of India. Palaeobolanisl, 40 floras of Rhodesia and Malawi - Part 2. The (3): 356-360. Glossopteris flora in the Wankie District of SURANGE, K. R. & CHANDRA, S. (1974a). Fructi southern Rhodesia. Symposium on Florislics and fications of Glossopteridales from India. Palaeo Stratigraphy of Gondwanaland: 13-25. Birbal bOlaniSI, 41 (1): 1-17. Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow. SURANGE, K. R. & CHANDRA, S. (1974b). Lid SURANGE, K. R. & MAHESHWARI, H. K. (1970). gel/onia Inllcronala sp. nov. female fructification Some male and female fructifications of Glosso from the Lower Gondwana of India. Palaeo pteridales from India. Palaeonlographica, 129B bOlanisl, 21 (1): 121-126. (4-6): 178-192. EXPLANATION O.F PLATE (The specimen is deposited at the B.S.I.P. Museum) 1. Utkalia dicholoma gen. et sp. nov. - Specimen HoJotype no· 35470. x 3. showing dichotomous axis, each dichotomy bear 2. A portion of above specimen enlarged to show ing mostly alternate branches on either side. the nature and allachment of seed. x 8. N tv