Some more leaf-impressions from the Himalayan foot-hills of Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

In the present paper five well-preserved leaf-impressions collected from the Siwalik sediments of Sevok Road cutting and Ramthi River sections in Darjeeling District, West Bengal have been described. These are Xanthophyllum mioflavescens sp. nov., Pterospermum siwalicum sp. nov., Swintonia miocenica Awasthi & Prasad, Millettia oodlabariensis sp. nov., and Glochidion (=Phyllanthus) palaeohirsutum sp. nov. showing close resemblance with the extant taxa Xanthophyllum flavescens Roxb., Pterospermum semi-sagittatum Ham., Swintonia floribunda Griff., Millettia albiflora Prain and Glochidiom birsutum Muell., of the families Xanthophyllaceae, Sterculiaceae, Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae, respectively. The presence of these elements in the Siwalik sediments further suggests the prevalence of tropical humid climate in the region during sedimentation.