Stratigraphic position and age of plant bearing Nidpur beds

Abstract

The Gopad River Section near Nidpur has yielded a rich and diversified flora showing the dominance of Dicroidium associated with the culmination of non-straite bisaccate pollen. Gymnosperms are the main components of this fossil assemblage. Dicroidium a widely disseminated taxon in the Gondwanaland has restricted stratigraphical range. It has been considered to be an infallible indicator of Triassic time. Furthermore, the consistency of usual association of Pteruchus with Dicroidium also supports a Triassic age for Nidpur beds. Confirmatory evidence of the Triassic age is also provided by the frequent occurrence of Alisporites indicus correlated with the variable pollen (Aisporites complex) of Pteruchus. The dominant pollen Satsangisaccites distinguishes Nidpur assemblage from other palynofloras whereas Nidipollenites have now been reported from other Triassic palynofloras.