On an enigmatic fossil plant from the Early Permian of South Karanpura Coalfield, India

Abstract

An apparent whorl of heterophyllous leaves is reported from the Barakar Formation of south Karanpura Coalfield, Bihar. The leaves are heterophyllous and their non-stomatiferous cuticle shows cells in longitudinal series with thick anticlinal walls. The specimen presents a superficial resemblance with leaf whorls of the sphenophylls; the latter, however, differ in having sinuous-walled cells in the epidermis of both surfaces. There is a distinct possibility that this specimen represents a bunch of immature leaves of a taxon related either to Euryphyllum or Pantophyllum, regarded as members of the cordaitean group of plants.