Canarium palaeoluzonicum, a new fossil wood from the Neogene of Kerala with remarks on the nomenclature of fossil woods of Burseraceae

Abstract

A carbonised wood is described from the Neogene sediments (Varkala beds) of Varkala Coast, Kerala. It shows close resemblance with the wood of a Philippine species of Canarium, C. luzonicum of Burseraceae, particularly in having 1-2 horizontal gum canals in multiseriate rays. The carbonised wood is named as Canarium palaeoluzonicum sp. nov. Its presence along with some other Malaysian elements in the Neogene sediments of Kerala Coast suggests a phytogeographic link of the Indian subcontinent with south-east Asia during the Miocene-Pliocene. The problem of nomenclature of fossil woods of Burseraceae is also discussed.