First report of the plant fossils from the Manas National Park, Assam, India

R.C. Mehrotra; S.K. Basumatary; S.K. Bera; Gaurav Srivastava; G.C. Sarma; C.K. Baruah

doi:10.54991/jop.2011.173

Authors

R.C. Mehrotra Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
S.K. Basumatary Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
S.K. Bera Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
Gaurav Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
G.C. Sarma Gauhati University, Guwahati 781014, India
C.K. Baruah Gauhati University, Guwahati 781014, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2011.173

Keywords:

Leaf impressions, Dipterocarpaceae, Thelypteridaceae, Miocene, Palaeoclimate

Abstract

Plant fossils, mainly leaf impressions, are described for the first time from the Tipam Group of rocks exposed at Subankhata Locality in Manas National Park in Baksa District of Assam. Two new fossil leaves showing affinities with Parashorea stellata Kurz and Shorea ovalis (Korth.) Bl. respectively of the family Dipterocarpaceae, along with a fern frond of Cyclosorus resembling C. proliferus (Retz.) Tard. and C. Chr. of the family Thelypteridaceae are described from the present assemblage. In addition, impressions of a monocot stem and a seed-like structure are also reported. These plant fossils indicate Middle-Late Miocene age and existence of rain forest in the region during the period of deposition of the rock successions.

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