Angiospermous fossil leaves from the Siwalik sediments (Middle Miocene) of Darjeeling District, West Bengal

J.S. Antal; M. Prasad

doi:10.54991/jop.1997.1353

Authors

J.S. Antal Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
M. Prasad Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.1997.1353

Keywords:

Angiosperms, Leaf-impressions, Flacourtia, Alsodeia, Shorea, Zizyphus, Ventilago, Syzygium, Homonoia, Middle Miocene, West Bengal (India)

Abstract

In the present paper some more angiospermous leaf-impressions recovered from Ghish River, Lish River and Sevok Road section in Darjeeling District, West Bengal have been described, These are-Flacourtia tertiara Prasad & Awasthi 1996, Alsodeia palaeoracemosa sp. nov. (Flacourtiaceae), Shorea bengalensis sp. nov. (Dipterocarpaceae), Zizyphus palaeoapetala sp. nov., Ventilago tistaensis sp. nov. (Rhamnaceae), Syzygium palaeocuminii Prasad & Awasthi 1996 (Myrtaceae) and Homonoia mioriparia sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae). Out of these seven taxa, five are new records to the Siwalik flora. The dominance of evergreen and moist deciduous elements in the assemblage further confirms the prevalence of warm and humid climate during the deposition of the Himalayan foreland sediments.