A Lower Jurassic Miospore Assemblage from the Variegated Shale, Nammal Gorge, Salt Range (West Pakistan)

A LOWER JURASSIC MIOSPORE ASSEMBLAGE FROM THE VARIEGATED SHALE, NAMMAL GORGE, SALT RANGE (WEST PAKISTAN)

K. P. JAIN & S. C. D. SAH Birbal Salmi Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow

ABSTRACT land show close similarity with the present Present communication deals mainly with the miospores. morphological and taxonomical revision of the Distribution - Lower Triassic to Middle miospores previously recorded and described by Jurassic (COUPER, 1958; p. 134). Sah (1955) from the variegated shale sample, collected from Nammal Gorge, Salt Range, W. Pakistan. Apart from its botanical considerations, Genus - Divisisporites (Thoms., in Thoms. the spore-pollen assemblage has also been chrono• & Pflug) Pot., 1956 logically valucd. It has been concluded on the miospores evidence that the Variegated Stage is Divisisporites narmnalensis sp. novo older than the Rajmahal Intertrappcan Series. PI. 1, Figs. 3-4 INTRODUCTION Holotype-PI. 1, Fig. 4; Reg. No. 6403; Sl. No. 3044-9. Type Locality - Variegated Stage, Nam• OURthe knowledgeVariegated Stageof plantis veryfossilsmeagre.from mal Gorge, Salt Range, W. Pakistan. Sitholey (1949) for the first time Horizon - Lower Jurassic. reported Protopteris nammalensis, a cyathea• Diagnosis - Miospores trilete, amb broad• ceous tree fern from this stage. Later ly triangular, measuring 50-55 fL in dia• Sah (1955) and Sah and Jain (1968) des• mcier; apices obtusely rounded; sides cribed some plant micro- and megaspores slightly convex; Y-rnark distinct, reaching respectively from the same horizon. The 3/4 or some times upto spore margin, laesura present study is the result of remaceration flanked by faint margo, ray ends bifurcated; of the type material (for details of location exine 1-1·5 fL thick, scabrate; distal folds and sample, see SAH, 1955, p. 60 and SAH prominen 1.. & JAIN, 1968, p.288). The artificial sys• Comparison - Divisisporites nammalensis tem of classification by Potonie (1956, 1958 sp. novo differs from D. ovalis Sah & Jain & 1960) has been followed here for the (1965) and other species of the genus in its systematic description. bigger size, folded distal exine and broadly triangular shape. SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION Genus - Spongiosisporis Krutzsch, 1959 Anteturma - Sporites H. Pot., 1893 Turma - Triletes (Reinsch) Dettm., 1963 Spongiosisporis obovata (Rogalska) comb. Subturma - Azonotriletes (Lub.) Dettm., novo 1963 PI. 1, Figs. 5-7 Infraturma - Laevigati (Benn. & Kidst.) Pot., 1956 1954 Clathropteris obovata var. magna Tur.• Genus - Todisporites Coup., 1958 Ket., in Rogalska, p. 11; pI. 3, figs. 3-5. Todisporites major Coup., 1958 1955 Leiotriletes Type 5, in Sah; p. 62; PI. 1, Figs. 1-2 pI. 1, fig. 5. 1956 Clathropteris obovata var. magna Tur.• 1955 Leiotriletes Type 7; in Sah, p. 62; . Ket., in Rogalska, p. 15; pI. 5, fig. 1. pI. l,fig.lO. 1958 Concavisporites crassexinius Nilsson, p. Remarks - Spores of Todites goeppertt"a• 35; pI. 1, fig. 11. nus (Munst.) Krass. described by Harris 1963 Concavisporites Type A, B & C, in (1931) from the Rhaetic -- Liassic of Green- Saad, p. 120; pI. 33, figs. 9-15. 127 128 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Description - Miospores toriate, amb tri• Remar1?s - Only two miospores of this angular, measuring 35-45 fL along the equa• type have been recorded and therefore no torial diameter. Y-mark distinct, laesur3. specific comparison is attempted. reaching upto the spore body. Tori promi• nent and of full fold fillecl type. Exine Infrat-zrma - Auriculati (Schoff) Dettm., 2-3 fL thick, laevigate. . 1963 Comparison - Spongiosisporis obovata (Rogalska) comb. novo differs from the Genus - Matonisporites (Coup.) Dettm., 1963 known species of the genus in having a Matonisporites phlebopterioides Coup., 1958 laevigate exine. Remarks - Similar spores have been PI. I, Figs. 10-14 reported to occur in Thaumatopteris schenhi Nathorst (HARRIS, 1931, p. 93; PI.. 18, 1955 Lt!iotriletes Type 1, 2, 3 in Sah; p. 62; FIG. 1). pI. 1, figs. 1-4 and 8-8a. Remarks - Miospores only vary in size, Genus - Dictyophyllidites (Coup.) Dettm. measuring 40-50 fL in equatorial diameter. 1963 Distribution - Liassic to Aptian (DETT• MANN, 1963, p. 58). DictyoPhylliddes equiexinus (Coup.) Dettm., Affinities - This miospore type has been 1963 recorded from the Mesozoic Phlebopteris PI. I, Figs. 8-9 and certain living species of Dicksonia L' Rerit (BOLKHOVITINA,1956; PI.. 7, FIGS. 1954 Sporites adriennis Potonie f. meso• 100c-d). zoic1ts Thierg. in Rogalska, p. 11; pI. 2, figs. 7-8; pI. 3, figs. 1-2. Infraturma - Murornati Pot. & Kr., 1954 1955 Leiotriletes Type 9, in Sah; p. 63; pI. 1, fig. 23. Genus - Staplinisporites Pocock, 1962 Distribution - Liassic to Lower Creta• ceous. Staplinispordes pococl?ii sp. novo PI. 1, Figs. 15-18 Dictyophyllidites sp. PI. I, Fig. 28 Holotype - PI. 1, Fig. 18; Reg. No. 2604; SI. No. 3036-10. Description - Miospore trilete. Amb tri• Type Locality - Variegated Stage, Nam• angular, angles rounded, sides striaght to mal Gorge, Salt Range, W. Pakistan. slightly CO:1Vexand melsuring 60 fL in equa• Horizon - Lower Jurassic. torial diameter. Y-mlrk distinct, reaching Diagnosis - Miospores trilete, amb broan• 3/4 of the spore radius, laesura slightly ly triangular, measuring 30-37 X 24-32 p. sinu:)us, bordered by weakly thickened in size, apices obtusely rounded, inter-radial margins, enclosei within the membraneous sides straight to sometimes slightly convex; elevated lips. Exine smooth, 1-1·5 fL thick. V-mark prominent, laesura reaching upto Remarks - This particular spore shows ambo Exine proximally thin and scabrate; its cbse.3t resemblance with the spores of distally ornamented with a single concentric Dictyophyllum muensteri (Gopp.) Nath. de• and several radial bands of exinal thicken• scribed by Harris (1931, p. 86) from the ings. Concentric band separating a 10-13 Liassic of Greenland. fL wide equatorial zone. Extrema linea• menta sinuous. Genus - Cosmosporites Nilsson, 1958 Comparison - Staplinisporites pocockii sp. novo differs from S. camin1fs (Balme) Cosmosporites sp. Pocock (1962) in having only a single con• PI. 1, Fig. 27 centric band of thickening and in the absence of central thickened granular boss. Description - Miospore trilete. Amb tri• Remarks - Rogalska (1956, p. 39; PI.. 28, angular, measuring 16-20 fL in diameter. FIG. 5) described some spores as Lycospori• V-mark distinct, reaching almost upto the tes sp. from the Liassic beds of Poland which equator. Exine 2-2·5 fL thick, distally appear to be conformable to the spores of thickened at the angles, surface smooth. the form genus Staplinisporites. JAiN & SAIl - ,\ LuWER J lIj{ASSIC MiOSPORE ASSEMBLAGE 129

Genus - Lycopodiumsporites Thierg., 1938 lnfraturma - Apiculati (Benn. & Kidst.) Pot. 1956 Lycopodiumsporites sp. Genus - Osmundacidites Coup., 1953 PI. 1, Fig. 22 Osm1tndacidites sp. Description - Miospores trilete, spherical to ovoid in shape, 45 [J.in diameter. Y• PI. 1, Fig. 23 mark distinct, laesura ± reaching upto the margin, 28 [J. long. Exine 2-3 [J. thick, 1955 Trachytriletes type 1; in Sah; pI. 1, proximally smooth; distally reticulate, muri fig. 29. thick, 1-1·5 [J.high, lacunae small, less than Description - Miospore trilete. Amb 0·5 [J. in diameter. Extrema l£neamenta oval to sub circular, measuring 42 [J.in dia• sinuous. meter. Y-mark prominent, laesura reaching upto the spore body. Exine thin, 0·5 [J. Genus - Tigrisporites Kl., 1960 thick, microgranulose. Remarl

~~I schyosporites sp. Genus - MonoZites (Erdtm.) Pot., 1956 PI. 1, Fig. 26 Monolites sp.~~

Description-Miospore trilete. Amb broad• PI. 1, Fig. 29 ly triangular measuring 48 [J.in size. Y• mark distinct, laesura reaching 1/2 of the Description - Moispore monolete, broadly spore radius. Exine 2-3 [J.thick, distally oval in shape, 75 X 96 [J.in size. Monolete ornamented with thick, 3 fl. high ridges small, 40 [J.in size, lips thin. Exine smooth. which anastomose to form negative reticu• Extrema lineament a smooth. lum; proximal surface granulose, granules Remarks - The attached miospore shows densely placed along the pyramic area to its nearest resemblance with the spores of form a sort of thick margo. Asterotheca meriani Bharad. & Singh (1956), Remarks - The specimen differs from all the dispersed spores of which have been the other species of the genus Ischyosporites assigned to the genus Latosporites Pot. & in having densely granulose pyramic area. Kr. 1954. •

~~130 THE PALAEOBOTANIST~~

Anteturma - Pollenites Pot., 1931 1966 Callialasporites barragaonensis, Srivas• Turma - Perinosaccati Jain (1969) tava, p. 94; pI. 5, fig. 1. Emended Diagnosis - Miospores mono• Genus - Perinopollenites Coup. emend. Jain porate, pore not always seen, perinosaccate, spherical in shape, 30-70 fL in diameter; 1958 Perinopollenites, Couper, p. 152; pI. body circular, 15-55 fL in diameter, enve• 27, figs. 9-11. loped by peri!lOSaccus. Exine smooth. 1961 Applanopsis, Doring, p. 112; pI. 16, Perinosaccus well developed without margi• figs. 9-15. nal thickenings, thin, expanded, extending Emended diagnosis - Miospores monopo• upt.o 20 fL beyond the body margin, surface rate, pore not always clearly seen, spherical; scabrate, radial folds prominent to some• body circular, enveloped by a loose fitting times absent. cover or perinosaccus. Body exine and peri• Distribution - Liassic on wards (COUPER, nosaccus surface structured or sculptured. 1958). Remarks -Perinopollenites (Coup.) can Affinity - Coniferae. easily be distinguished from Triangulopsis Rernarks--Simplicesporites granulosus Les• Doring emend. Jain (1969) in having mono• chik (1955, p. 35; PL. 5, FIG. 3) is doubtful porate circular body and thin perinosaccus for its being a zonate form but seems to be without a prominent crassitudo. perinosaccate. Potonie (1958, p. 83) is Genotype - Perinopollenites elatoides Cou• also of the opinion that it is not zonate but per, 1958; pI. 27, fig. 9; p. 152. saccate.

~~Perinopollenites elatoides (Couper) emend. Perinopollenites segmentatus (Dalme) comb. Jain novo Jain PI. 1, Figs. 30-34; PI. 2, Figs. 35-36 PI. 2, Figs. 37-38~~

1955 Hymenozonotriletes Naum., m Sah; 1957 Zonalapollenites segmenlatus, Balme, p. 64; pI. 1, fig. 17. p. 33; pI. 9, figs. 93-94. 1958 Perinopollenites elatoides, Couper, 1958 Zonalapollenites segmentatus Balme, p. 152; pI. 27, figs. 9-11. in Lantz, p. 925; pI. 4, figs. 41-42. 1958 Zonalapollenites dampieri Balme, 1963 Callialasporites segmentatus (Balme) in Lantz, p. 928; pI. 3, fig. 34. Dev.inDeJersey, p. 9; pI. 3, fig. 6. 1958 Laricoidites triquetrus, Lantz, p. 1964 Perinopollenites elataides Couper, in 926; pI. 5, fig. 51. Dc Jersey, p. 13; pI. 6, fig. 9. 1961 Callialasporites monoalasportts, Dev, 1964 Callialasporites segmentatus (Balme) p. 48; pI. 4, fig. 25. Srivastava, in Singh et al., p. 297; 1961 Applanopsis dampieri, Doring, p. 113; pI. 7, fig. 92. pI. 16, figs. 11-15. 1965 Callialasporites (al. Zonalapollenites) 1962 Perinopollenites elatoides Couper, segmentat'us (Balnie) Srivastava, in in Pocock, p. 60; pI. 9, figs. 136-137. Sah & Jain, p. 276; pI. 3, figs. 77-78; 1962 Pfhtgipollenites dampieri (Balme), pI. 4, figs. 90, 93, 94. Pocock, p. 72; pI. 12, figs. 183-184. 1966 Callialasporites jaisalmel'ensis, Sri• 1964 Tsugaepollenites dampieri (Balme) vastava, p. 94; pI. 4, fig. 6. Dettmann, in De Jersey; p. 12; pI. Emended Diagnosis - Miospores mono• 7; fig. 8. porate, spherical, 35-50 fL in diameter, body 1964 Perinopollenites elatoides Couper, in circular, 30-40 fL in diameter, enveloped Singh, p. 107; pI. 14, fig. 9. by thin perino saccus without crassitu~o. 1965 Callialasporites monoalasporus Dev Perinosaccus surface scabrate, extendmg in Sah & Jain, p. 276; pI. 4, figs. 95-96. 4-8 fL beyond the body, folds irregular. Body exine smooth. 1965 Applanopsis dampieri (Balme) Doring 1961, in Goubin et al., p. 227; pI. 1, Comparison - Perinopollenites segmentatus figs. 1-5. (Balme) comb. novo differs from P. elatoides 1965 Applanopsis dampieri (Balme) Doring (Coup.) m having less expanded penno• 1961, in Goubin, p. 1420; pI. 1, figs. saccus beyond the body and its much con• 1-2. voluted nature wit.h irregular folds. JAIN & SAH - A LOWER JURASSIC MIOSPORE ASSEMBLAGE 131

Perinopollenites dubius sp. nov., Jain 1956 ef.AgathisovataWarbg., in Rogalska; PI. 2, Fig. 39 p. 28; pI. 13, figs. 1-4. Distribution - Jurassic to Tertiary. Holotype - PI. 2, Fig. 39; Reg. No. 2604; Remarks - Chasmatosporites rimat1ts Nils• 51. No. 3022-1. son (1958, p. 55; PL. 4; FIGS. 1-2) has been Locality - Variegated Shale, Nammal described as a monolete spore, but from Gorge, Salt Range, W. Pakistan. its photograph it seems doubtful. Horizon - Lower Jurassic. Diagnosis --- Miospores monoporate, pore Turma - Saccites Erdtm., 1947 not always clearly seen, spherical in outline Subturma - Disaccites Cooks., 1947 measuring 60 tJ. in diameter; body triangular Infraturma - Pinosacciti (Erdtm.) Pot., 1958 30-35 X 50-55 tJ. in size, enveloped by well Genus - Alisporites (Daugh.) Nilsson, 1958 developed perinosaccus, extending 20 fl. be• yond the body, surface scabrate. Body Alisporites sp. exine smooth. PI. 2, Fig. 45 ComjJaY1:son- Perinopollenites dub ius sp. novo Jain differs from all the species of the Description - Pollen grains disaccate, genus in having a broad perinosaccus with 64 X 56 tJ. in size; body indistinct; bladders a triangular body. The miospores possess well develped, longer than broad, surface features of both Triangulopsis (Doring) f1l icrore ticula te. Jain (1969) and Perinopollenites (Couper) Jain but most of the features favour their Infraturma - Podocarpoiditi Pot., Thoms. placement under the genus Perinopollenites & Thierg., 1950 at the present moment. Genus - Podocarpidites (Cooks.) Pot., 1958

Perinopollenites microreticulatus sp. novo Podocarpidites fypicus Sah & Jain, 1965 Jain PI. 2, Figs. 46 & 49 Pl. 2, Figs. 40-42 Remarks - The Variegated shale speci• 1956 ? Sporites sp. (Type l3fa), in G6czan, mens are indistinguishable from P. typicus p. 187; pI. 9, fig. 9. in its morphological features but they extend Holotype - PI. 2, Fig. 42; Reg. No. 2604; 51. No. 3050-11. the body and overall size range upto 40 tJ. and 40 fl. X 50 tJ. respectively. Locality -- Variegated shale, Nammal Gorge, Salt Range, W. Pakistan. Podocarpidites sp. A Horizon - Lower Jurassic. Diagnosis - Miospores probably monopo• PI. 2, Figs. 50-51 rate, small, 30-40 tJ. in diameter; body 15-25 Description --- Pollen grains disaccate, tJ. in diameter, distinct from outer covering (Perinosaccus). Body exine scabrate. Pe• 60 X 48 tJ. in size; body and bladder mea• suring 45-30 tJ. and 20 X 48 (.L respectively. rinosaccus extending upto 20 tJ. beyond the body margin, surface intra-microreticulate. Furrow 16 tJ. broad, folds along the wing Comparison --P. microreticulatus sp. novo attachment with the body prominent. Body rim present. Exine microreticulate. Blad• Jain differs from all other species of the der surface reticulate. genus in having smaller size with ornament• Remar!?s - Some of the disaccate forms eel body and perinosaccus. elescribed by Sah and Jain (1965) from the Turma - Aletes Ibr., 1933 Rajmahal Intertrappean beds and by Sri• Subturma - Azonaletes (Luber) Pot. & vastava (1966) from Jaisalmer are compa• Kr., 1954 rable. Infraturma - Granulonapiti Cooks., 1947 Genus - Araucariacites Cooks., 1947 Podocarpidites d. P. novus Sah & Jain, 1965 Araucariacites australis Cooks., 1947 PI. 2, Figs. 47-48 & 52 PI. 3, Figs. 43-44 Remarks - The variegated shale speci• mens differ from P. novus only in having 1954 d. Agathis ovata Warbg., in Rogalska, wings of two different size. Otherwise p. 17; pI. 8, fig. 1. are indistinguishable from it. 132 THE PAL.\EOBOT,\NIST

~~Subturma - Polys(lccites Cooks., 1947 Turma - Aletes Ibr., 1933 Subturma - Azonoletes (Luber) Pot. & Genus -Podosporites Rao, 1943 Kr., 1954~~

~~Podosporites tripal?shi Rao, 1943 Genus - Spheripollpnites Coup., 1958~~

~~PI. 2, Figs. 53-54 Spheripollenites suhgranulosus Coup., 1958 1955 Trisacctts, in Sah, p. 65; pI. 1, fig. 26. pI. 2, Figs. 68-71 & 80-81~~

Turma - Eupollcnites Kl., 1960 I I Remarks - Size range of our specimens Subturma - Operculati Venkat. & Goczan, 1964 18-25 fL. Affinity - Probably taxaceae (COUPER, Genus - Classopollis (Pflug) Pocock & Jan• 1958, p. 159). son., 1961 Turma - Praecolpates Pot. & Kr., 1954 Classopollis classoides (Pflug) Pocock & Janson., 1961 Genus - Eucommiidites (Erdtm.) Hughes, 1961 PI. 2, Figs. 55-59 Eucommiidites troedssont"i (Erdtm.) Hughes, 1955 Liratoaletes Type 1-2, in Sab; p. 65; 1961 pI. 1, figs. 11, lla. Striatoaletes Type 1, in Sah; p. 64; PI. 2, Figs. 72-76 pI. 1, fig. 18. Turma - Monocolpates Ivers. & Tr. Stenozonotriletes Naum., in Sab; p. Smith, 1950 64; pI. 1, fig. 27. Subturma - Intortes (Naum.) Pot., 1958 Trachyalf'tes Type 1, in Sah; p. 64; Genus - Cycadopites Wodeh. ex Wils. & pI. 1, fig. 25. Webest., 1956 Azonomonoletes Type 2, in Sab; p. 64; pI. 1, fig. 30. Cycadopites gracilis Sah & Jain, 1965 PI. 2, Figs. 77-78 Genus - Gliscopollis Venkat., 1966 DISCUSSION Gliscopollis meyeriana (KI.) Venkat., 1966 PI. 2, Figs. 60-64 Elements of the Flora - The miospore assemblage recovered from the Variegated Shale member exposed at the Nammal Gliscopollis nammalensis sp. !lOV. Gorge section of Salt Range, West Pakistan, PI. 2, Figs. 65-67 & 79 is composed of the following 22 constituent genera - Todisporites, Divisisporites, Spon• Holotype - PI. 2, Fig. 65; Reg. No. 2604; giosisporis, DictyoPhyllidites, M atonispori• SI. No. 3026-10. tes, Lycopodiumsporites, Staplinisporites, Locality - Variegated sbale, Nammal Tigrisporites, I schyosporites, Baculatis• Gorge, Salt Range, W. Pakistan. porites, Osmundacidl;tes, Cosmosporites, Horizon - Lower Jurassic. Classopollis, Gliscopollis, Perinopollenites, Diagnosis - Miospores probably mono• Podocarpidites, Eucommiidites, Cycadopites, porate, trilete faintly discern able. Pollen Podosporites, Spheripollenites, Alisporites grains circular, small, 20-28 fJ. in diameter. and Araucariacites. Distally exine thins cut forming the The dominant spore and pollen consti• opercuium. Exine 1-1· 5 fJ. thick, radial tuents in the assemblage are Classopollis striations prominent along tbe margin, complex 50 per cent, Perinopollenites 22 rest of the surface punctate. per cent; while M atonisporites phlebop• Comparison - Gliscopollis nammalensis sjJ. terioides 4 per cent, Dictyophyllidites 4 per novo differs from other species of the genus cent, Eucommiidites troedssonii 3 per cent, in having wide tinuitus or weakened area Podocarpidites 4 per cent, Araucariact"tes separating the operculum and less promi• 4 per cent and Tt"grisporites 1 per cent, form nent pore and trilete. the other characteristic elements. J.\ IN & S.\H -.\ LOWLR JURASSIC l\I10SPORE ,\SSEMBLr\GE 133

The Salt Range palynological ass(' l1bl.age diversitvfrom the Middle and Upper Jurassic is further characterized by the comp, :atIve• assembfages described by Sah and Jain ly poor representation of .saccate pollen (1965), Jain and Sah (1966), Saad (1963), grains and the abse.nce of stnat~ and mono• Pocock (1962) and others.. . saccate pollen grams. The tn.lete genera The Middle-Upper JurassIc palynologIcal together with the Classopoll1S comple?C assemblages are characterized by the pre• (Classopollis, Gleiscopollis and .Sphen• dominance of saccate pollen grains followed poltenites) and the perinosaccate mlOspores by the trilete spore genera, viz., Trilobo• are quite abundant. sporites, C1'catricosispori tes, Contignisporites and the meager reprE;sentation of Classo• Comparison with Triassic miofloras pollis and Perinopollenites. Since all these trilete genera are absent from the present A perusal of the well known Triassic assemblage, and on the other hand the literature published by various authors, percentage of Classopollis and Perinopolle• viz., Thiergart (1949), De Jersey (1959, nites is very high, it is reasonable to assume 1962), MalY2.vikina (1953), Leschik (1955), that the variegated shale assemblage is Potonie and Klaus (1954), Pautsch (1958), older than Middle Jurassic. Klaus (1960), Reinhardt (1961), Sierotin The present palynological assemblage (1961), Schulz (1962), Jansonius (1962) shows close relationship with the well known Balme (1963), Bharadwaj and Singh (1964), Liassic miofloras described by Reissinger lVHidler(1964), Clarke (1965) and yen.kata• (1950), Rogalska (1954,1956), G6czan (1956), chala and G6czan (1964) clearly mdicates that the striated - disaccates dominated Nilsson (1958), De Jersev (1963, 1965), Playford and Dettmann '(1965) and Sri• the Lower Triassic. Thev appear to dwin• vastava (1966) from various pa~ts of th.e dle gradually during the Upper Triassic world. Because of their geographIcal proxI• and completely disappear in the Lower mity, the present miospore assemblage has Jurassic. . . been compared in detail with the Rajasthan Chaloner (1962, p. 339) is of the opmlOn assemblage described by Srivastava (1966) that it is possible to differentiate the Upp~r and with the Leigh Creek assemblage des• Keuper- Rhaetic from the Lower JurassIc cribed by Playford and Dettmann (1965) assemblages. He noted that the genera from Australia. A ratrisporites, Succinctisporites an.d Cam.e• Both palynological and geological evi• rosporites are restricte~ to .the Tnas whIle dences point towards a Lower-Middle J uras• Ovalipollis and Luecktspontes both ran!5e sic age to the Lathi Formation of Jaisalmer, through Keuper extending upto the Rhaehc, Rajasthan (SRIVASTAVA, 1966, p. 98). l?ut and Classopollis toroS1~Sappears in the basal absence of genera like Trilobosporites, Ctca• part of the Rhaetic extending into the tricos1:sporites and F oveosporites from t~e Jurassic. Lathi formation clearly indicate that Sn• Although the Salt Range mioflora is vastava's assemblage is older than the dominated by Classopollis elements? tl~e Rajmahal assemblage described by Sah two important Rhaetic genera Ovahpolhs and Jain (1965). Srivastava (l.c., p. 100) and Aratrisporites are unrepresented. Ven• also did not overlooK the possibility of the katachala and G6czan (1964, p. 226) com• Lathi assemblage being older than the paring their Hungarian "Kossen Facie~" Rajmahal. assemblage with the Middle Keuper n110• It is therefore, reasonable to assume a flora of Leschik (1955) and Keuper assen~• Lower Jurassic age for the Lathi and J ai• blage of Pautch (1958) remar~ed ~hat A uh• salmer formations. Like the present assem• spor ites, A cdnctisporites, Ovahpollts ann A n• blage, the Lathi mioflora is dominated by apicnlat£sporites are common to all the three the Classopollis elements. Besides a number assemblages and hence are good indicator of common elements, both the assemblages of Keuper age. The absence of these genera are characterized by the complete absence from the present assemblage tends to pre• of Ovalipollis and A:atri~porites. on the ~ne clnde an Upper Triassic age. hand and Cicatricoszsporztes, Tnlobospontes Comparison with Jurassic Miofloras and Contignisporites on the other. This similarity in composition points towards the homotaxial nature of the two assemb• The general composition of the Sal~ Range palynological assemblage shows consIderable lages. 134 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Another important miospore assemhlage, Classopollis and other clements. This com• described hy Playford and Dettmann (1965) position also suggests a Liassic age for the from the Leigh Creek Coal Measure, South Telford Basin mioflora. Australia also needs closer comparison. Thus, from the evidence provided by The Rhaetic- Liassic age for the Leigh Creek comparative analysis and the known distri• Coal Measures is based on palynological bution of characteristic Mesozoic genera evidences from samples of two localities, and species, it is concluded that the paly• viz., (1) North Basin and (ii) Telford Basin. nological assemblage from the variegated The mioflora recovered from the North stage member of the Salt Range Jurassic Basin shows the presence of A ratrisporitcs, corresponds more to the Lower Jurassic Lundbladispora and the striate - disaccate (Liassic) than Middle Jurassic, as suggested pollen grains of Hamiapollenites type. This earlier by Sah (1955, p. 70). composition together with the absence of Palaeoecological considerations - The Classopollis, I schyosporites, Lycopodium• ahundance of Classopollis and Perinopolle• sporites, Osmundacidites evidently indicates nites pollen grains, together ",:ith trilete a Rhaetic age. The Telford Basin mioflora spores and lesser frequency of saccate pollen compares very closely with the present grains suggest that the place of deposition Salt Range mioflora in the absence of striate might have been coastal environment with disaccate elements and Aratrisporites or dry climatic conditions (POCOCK&: JAN• LttndUadispora, and the abundance of SONIUS,1961,p. 446; SI

~~REFERENCES~~

BALME, B. E. (1957). Spores and pollen grains Idem (1965). Plant microfossils in some Queens• from the Mesozoic of Western Australia. Gomm. land crude oil samples. Ibid., 329: 1-9. Sci. Ind. Res. Org. T.G., 25: 1-48. DE JERSEY, N. J. & PATEN, R. J. (1964). Jurassic Idem (1963). Plant microfossils from the Lower spores and pollen grains from the Surat Basin. Triassic of \Vestern Australia. Palaeontology, 322: 1-18. 6 (1): 12-40. DETTMANN,M. E. (1963). Upper Mesozoic micro• Idem (1964). An Upper Triassic miospore assem• floras from South eastern Australia. Proc. R. blage from the coals of Lunz, Austria. Ibid., Soc. Viet., 77 (1): 1-148 12 (1): 28-44. DEV, S. (1961). The fossil flora of the Jabalpur BHARDWAJ. D. C. & SINGH, H. P. (1956). Astero• series - 3. Spores and Pollen grains. Palaeo• theca meriani (Brongn.) Stur and its spores botanist, 8 (1-2): 43-56. from the Upper Triassic of Lunz (Austria) DORING, H. (1961). Planktonartige Fossilien cles Palaeo botanist, 5 (2): 51-55. J ura/Kreicle-Grenzbereichs cler Bohrungen werle BOLKHOVITINA,N. A. (1956). Atlas of spores and (Mecklenburg). Geologie, 10 (32): 110-121. pollen in Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous of the GOCZAN, F. (1956). Pollen analytische (Palyno• Viliusk Basin. Trudy. Inst. geol. Acad. Nauk., logische) untersuchungen zur iclentifizierung cler 2: 1-185. Liassischen schwarzkohlenfloze von Komlo. CHALONER, \V. G. (1962). British Rhaetic and Ann. Inst. Geol. Hungary, 45 (1): 167-212. Triassic spores (Resume). Mus. nat. Hist. Nat., GOUBIN, N. (1965). Description et repartition cles 4 (1): 1-419. principaux pollenites Permiens, Triasiques et CLARKE, R. F. A. (1965). Keuper miospores from Jurassiques des sondages du bassin de Moron• Worcestershire England. Palaeontology, 8(2): dava. Inst. Franc. Petrole, 20 (10): 1415• 294-321. 1461- COUPER, R. A. (1958). British Mesozoic micro• GOUBIN, N., TAUGOURDEAU,J. & BALME, B. E. spores and pollen grains. A systematic and (1965). Considerations taxinomiques sur deux stratigraphic study. Palaeontographica, 103(B) especes de pollen du Mesozoique. Rev. Micro• (4-6): 75-179. palaeont., 7 (4): 225-227. DE JERSEY, N. J. (1959). Jurassic spores and HARRIS, T. M. (1931). The fossil flora of Scorsby pollen grains from the Rose 'Wood coalfield. Sound, East East Greenland, Part 1 - Crypto• Qd. Min. j., 60: 346-366. gams (exclusive of Lycopodiales). Medd. Gren• Idem (1962). Triassic spores and pollen grains land, 85 (2): 1-102. from the Ipswich coalfield. Geol. Surv. Qd., HELAL, A. H. (1966). Jurassic plant microfossils 307: 1-15. from the subsurface of Kharga basin, Western Idem (1963). Jurassic spores and pollen grains Desert, Egypt. Palaeontographica, 117B (4-6): from the Marburg Sandstone. Ibid., 321: 1-21' 83-98. J.\T~ & S_\H - A LOWER JURASSIC :vIrOSPORE \SSEMBLAGE 135

JAIN, K_ P. (1969). Morphology and taxonomy of Rhiit Thiiringens. Mber. Deutsch. Akad. Wiss .• the genus Triangulopsis Doring. Palaeobota• 3: 704-711. nist, 17 (1): REISSINGER, A. (1950). Die "Pollen-analyse" JAIN, K. P. & SAH, S. C. D. (1966). Revision of ausgedehnt auf alk sedimentgesteine der geo• Jurassic spores and pollen grains from Andi• logischen vergangen-heit. Palaeontographica, gama, Ceylon. Ibid., 14 (1-3): 106-115. 90 (B): 99-126. JAN50NIUS, J. (1962). Palynology of Permian and ROGALSKA,M. (1954). Spores and pollen analysis Triassic sediments, peace river area, Western of the Liassic coal of Blanowice in Upper Silesia. Canada. Palaeontographica, 110B (1-4): 35• Bull. Inst. Geol., 89: 1-47. 98. Idem (1956). Spore and pollen analysis of the KLAus, VI!. (1960). Sporen der karnischen Stufe Liassic deposits of the Mroczkow-Rozwady area der ostalpinen Trias. lb. geol., 5: 107-183. in the Opoczno district. Ibid., 104: 1-89. KRISHNA::-I,M. S. (1960). Geology of India and SAAD, S. I. (1963). Pollen and spores recently dis• Burma, Madras. covered in the coals of Sinai region. I Euone LANTZ, J. (1958). E'tude palynologique de quel• Moussa district. Palaeontographica, 113 (B) ques echantillous j\Iesozoiques du Dorset (5-6): 117-125. (Grande-Bretange). Rev. Inst. Franc. petrole, SAH, S. C. D. (1955). Plant microfossils from a 13 (6): 917-929. Jurassic shale of Salt Range, 'West Punjab LEscHIK, G. (1955). Die Keuper-flora von Neue• (Pakistan). Palaeobotanist, 4: 60-71. welt bei Basel II. Die Iso-und Mikrosporen. SAH, S. C. D. & JAIN, K. P. (1965). Jurassic spores Schweiz. Palaeont. Abh. Basel, 72: 1-70. and pollen grains from the Rajmahal Hills, MALYAVIKINA,V. S. (1953). Spores and pollen Bihar; a discussion on the age of the Rajmahal from the Upper Triassic and the Lower and Intertrappean beds. Ibid., 13 (3): 264-290. Middle Jurassic in the western and eastern parts Idem (1967). Palynological dating of Variegated of the Ural district. Palaeobot. Sporn. VNIGIN, Shale, Salt Range (W. Pakistan). Curro Sci .• 75: 95-159. 36 (14): 380. MADLER, K. (1964). Bemerkenswerte sporenfor• Idem (1968). Lower Mesozoic megaspores from men aus dem keuper und unteren Lias. Forts• the Variegated Stage, Salt Range, (W. Pakistan). cher. Geol. Rheinild., 12: 169-200. Palaeobotanist, 16 (3): 288-291. NILSSO::-l,T. (1958). Uber das Vorkommen eines SCHULZ, E. (1962). Sporen paHiontogische Unter• Mesozoischen Sapropelgesteins in Schonen. Inst. suchungen zur Rhat-Lias - Grenze in Thurin• Min. Palento. Quart. geol. Univ. Lund. Sweden, gen und der Actmark. Geologie, 11: 308-319. 53: 1-112. SIEROTIN, Th. (1961). Sporae dispersae in Rhat PAUTSCH,M. E. (1958). Keuper sporomorphs from und Lias van Grossbell hofIen (Mittelfrauken). Swierczyna, Poland. Micropaleontology, 4 (3): Diss. Fr. Univ. Berlin: 1-77. 321-325. SINGH, C. (1964). Microflora of the Lower Creta• PLAYFORD,G. & DETTMANN,M. E. (1965). Rhaeto• ceous Mannville group, East-central Alberta. Liassic plant microfossils from the Leigh Creek Bull. Res. Coun. Alberta, 12: 1-238. Coal Measures, South Australia. Senck. Leth., SINGH, H. P., SRIVASTAVA,S. K. & Roy, S. K. 46 (2-3): 127-181. (1964). Studies on the Upper Gondwana of POCOCK, S. A. J. (1962). Microfloral analysis and Cutch-1. Mio- and macrospores. Palaeobota• age determination of strata at the Jurassic• nist, 12 (3): 282-306. Cretaceous boundary in the \lIIestern Canada SITHOLEY, R. V. (1949). Protopteris nammalensis plains. Palaeontographica, 111 (B): 1-95. sp. nov., A Jurassic cyatheaceous tree fern from POCOCK, S. A. J. & JANSONIUS, J. (1961). The the Salt Range, Punjab. Natn. Inst. Sci. India, pollen genus Classopollis Pflug, 1953. Micro• 15 (1): 1-10. paleontology, 7 (4): 439-449. SRIVASTAVA,S. K. (1966). Jurassic microflora from POTONIE R. (1956). Synopsis der gattungen der Rajasthan, India. Micropaleontology, 12 (1): Sporae dispersae. Teil. I. Sporites. Geol. l. 87-100. Beih., 23: 1-103. THIERGART, F. (1949). Der Stratigraphische wert Idem (1958). Synopsis der gattungen der Sporae Mesozoischer pollen und sporen. Palaeonto• dispersae II. Ibid., 31: 1-114. graphica, 89(B): 1-34. Idem (1960). Synopsis der gattungen der Sporae VENKATACHALA,B. S. (1966). Mesozoic operculate dispersae III. Ibid., 39: 1-189. pollen and their morphology. Palaeobotanist. POTONIE, R. & KLAUS, W. (1954). Einige Sporen• 15 (1-2): 98-101. gattungen des alpinen Salzgebirges. Geol. lb., VENKATACHALA,B. S. & GOCZAN,F. (1964). The 68: 517-544. spore-pollen flora of the Hungarian "Kossen REINHARDT, P. (1961). Sporae dispersae aus dem Facies ". Acta Geologica, 8 (1-4): 203-228.

~~EXPLANATION OF PLATES~~

(A II photographs magnified 500 X) PLALE 1 5-7. Spongiosisporis obovata (Rogalska) comb. nov., SI. Nos. 3023-5, 3038-1, 3032-13. 8-9. Dictyophyllidites equiexinus (Couper) Dett• 1-2. Todisporites major Couper; SI. Nos. 3032-5, mann, SI. Nos. 3031-12, 3026-1. 3031-7. 10-11. M atonisporites phlebopterioides Couper. 3-4. Divisisporites nammalensis sp. nov., SI. Nos. showing proximal and distal surfaces of the same 3035-3, 3044-9. spore respectively. SI. No. 3031-8. 136 THE PAL\.EOBOTANIST

12-14. Matonisporites phlebopterioides Couper, SI. 43-44. Araucariacites austral is Cookson. 51. Nos. Nos. 3055-1, 3031-5, 3030-2. . 3032-8, 3047-10. 15-16. Staplinisporiles pocockii sp. novo S1. Nos. 45. Alisporites sp., SI. No. 3024-3. 3044-7, 3044-1. 46. Podocarpidites typicus Sah & Jain, SI. No. 17-18. Siaplinisporites pocockii sp. novo showing 3026-3. the proximal and distal surfaces of the spore 47-48. Podocarpidites sp. d. novus Sah & Jain, respectively. 51. 1 os. 3045-1, 3036-10. 51. os. 3039-3, 3040-3. 19-21. Tigrisporites minor sp. novo 51. Nos. 49. Podocarpidites typicus 5ah & Jain, 51. 1'\0. 3050-3, 3047-7, 3028-2. 3023-6. 22. Lycopodiumsporites sp., SI. No. 3032-10. 50-51. Podocarpidites sp. A., 51. Nos. 3024-1, 23. Osmundacidites sp., 51. No. 3025-1. 3058-2. 24-25. Bacztlatisporites sp., 51. Nos. 3031-2 & 52. Podocarpidites sp. d. novus 5ah & Jain, 51. 3027-4. No. 3058-6. 26. Ischyosporites sp., SI. No. 3031-1. 53-54. Podocarpidites tripakshii Rao, 51. Nos. 27. Cosmosporites sp., SI. No. 3032-15. 3032-5, 3032-6. 28. Dictyophyllidites sp., SI. No. 3047-1. 55-59. Classopollis classoides (Pflug) Pocock & 29. Monolites sp., SI. No. 3030-6. Jansonius, 51. Nos. 3033-1, 3057-3, 3032-11, 3044-12, 30-34. Perinopollenites elatoides (Couper) emend. 3032-12. SI. Nos. 3037-1, 3045-1, 3033-5, 3024-4 and 3036-1. 60-64. Gleiscopollis meyeriana (Naum.) Venkata• chala, 51. Nos. 3038-2, 3029-7, 3032-14, 3030-8. 65-67. Gliscopollis nammalensis sp. nov., 51. Nos. 3026-10, 3043-11, 3042-6. PLATE 2 68-71. Spheripollenites subgranuloslts Couper, 51. No. 3051-3. 72-76. Eucommiidiles troedssonii (Erdtman) 35-36. Perinopollenites elatoides (Couper) emend. Hughes, 51. Nos. 3056-2, 3051-7, 3044-5, 3030-4, Jain SI. Nos. 3047-8, 3025-1. 3025-7. 37-38. Perinopotienites segmentatus (Balme) comb. 77-78. Cycadopites gracilis 5ah & Jain, 51. Nos. nov., Jain SI. 1 os. 3022-5, 3044-11. 3052-1, 3027-2. 39. Perinopollenites dubius sp. nov., Jain SI. No. 79. Gliscopollis nammalensis sp. nov., SI. No. 3022-1. 3044-14. 40-42. Perinopollenites microreticulatus sp. nov., 80-81. Spheripollenites subgranulosus Couper, 51. Jain SI. Nos. 3022-5, 3043-2, 3050-11. Nos. 3047-21, 3024-1. THE PALAEOBOTANIST, VOL. 17 JAIN & SAH-PLATE 1

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~~34 JAIN & SAH- PLATE 2 THE PALAE OBOTANIS-r:, VOL. 17~~