Occurrence of fossil mitragyna in the early miocene of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The paper reports tile occurrence of a fossil leaf and a fruit, resembling those or Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth., in tile Early Miocene sediments of Kasauli Formation exposed around Kasauli township in Himachal Pradesh. It indicates the existence or warm and moist conditions around Kasauli during Early Miocene, in contrast to tile presently prevailing cooler conditions. The report forms the earliest known record of the genus from India till now.