Chitaleypushpam mohgaoense gen. et sp. nov. from the Deccan intertrappean beds of India

Abstract

The paper describes the structure of a new fossil flower preserved in black chert from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of India exposed at Mohgaonkalan. It is 3.5 mm. long and 2.5 mm. broad at the tip and is hermaphrodite, stalked, bracteolate, with one whorl of tubular, valvate perianth, oval in T.S. The lobes of perianth are free only at the tip and not gibbous at the base. The androecium is of seven stamens, not connate, epiphyllous with dorsifixed anthers. Pollen is present in situ, each grain being 18-20 X 12-15 µ, tricolporate, psilate, subprolate, ora ± circular. The gynoecium is superior, not stipitate, ovary five angular, five locular, with axile placentation. Style is short, not differentiated from the simple stigma.

This is the third record of a petrified flower from this famous locality of Mohgaonkalan from where Sahnianthus parijai Shukla and Sahnipushpam shuklai Verma, syn. Sahnipushpam glandulosum Prakash, have been described. The present specimen is compared with these and as the differences are many it is named as Chitaleypushpam mohgaoense gen. et sp. nov. Affinities of the flower are discussed.