Evolutionary trends in the secondary xylem of woody dicotyledons from the Tertiary of India

Abstract

The present paper deals with two fossil woods of the family Anacardiaceae showing the closest resemblance with the woods of the extant genera Gluta L. and Mangifera L. The former is described from the Banaskantha District of Gujarat and the latter from the Jaisalmer District of Rajasthan. The occurrence of these woods during the Tertiary in the above areas indicates that the climatic conditions were definitely more humid at the time of deposition of these woods than the present dry desertic conditions.