Scale leaves from the Barakar Formation of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Morphological and taxonomic features of dispersed sterile scale leaves collected from the Barakar Formation of Pench, Kanhan and Pathakhera coalfields of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh are described. The scale leaves are normally described as morphological types without their assignment to taxonomic status. Due to this practice, the identity and significance of the scale leaves have gone astray in the Glossopteris flora. The presence of large number of sterile scale leaves with different morphological features in the present assemblage has helped to discuss their structure, nature and affinity. The scale leaves have been assigned to different genera and species namely Pantolepis indica gen. et sp. nov., Penchiolepis gondwanensis gen. et sp. nov., Penchiolepis indica sp. nov., Surangelepis ambarai gen. et sp. nov., Surangelepis elongatus sp. nov. and Utkaliolepis indica Tiwari et al. 2009.