Thinnfeldia indica Feistmantel and associated plant fossils from Tiruchirapalli District, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Plant mega and microfossils recovered from the Teraini clay and a tube well near Naicolam, both in Tiruchirapalli District, have been listed. Cuticular features of Thinnfeldia indica Feistmantel have been described in detail and its affinities traced to the cycads. On the basis of the totality of characters, the independent taxonomic status of the genus Thinnfeldia vis-à-vis the genera Dicroidium and Pachypteris is confirmed. Data pertaining to the age of Utatur plant beds are briefly reviewed.