36
2 Systematic Descriptions
to infra-granulate. Zona of uneven width, relatively narrow, often restricted to
merely a ridge.
Known distribution: Upper Permian of India (Bharadwaj 1962).
Discussion: Gondisporites was named by Bharadwaj for trilete spores with a
poorly developed zona. Bharadwaj noted an ‘inner body’ which appears to be the
nexine of a cavate spore. The uneven and usually narrow flange in Gondisporites
and sparsely dispersed spines distinguish it from Indotriradites.
Gondisporites raniganjensis (Bharadwaj 1962) (Fig. 2.19).
Occurrence: Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basins.
Description: Cavate, zonate. Trilete; laesurae simple, long, usually extending to
inner margin of flange. Amb circular to rounded-triangular. Proximal face pyramidal. Distal face hemi-spherical. Exine thinner on proximal face than on distal
face. Sculpture echinate, confined to distal face; spines are 1.5–3 µ long, and
3.5–4.5 µ long. Flange irregular in width in a single specimen.
Dimensions: 60–75 µ in equatorial diameter (15 specimens measured).
Remarks and comparisons: G. raniganjensis is distinguished by its coarse spinnate
sculpture; spines, though a large and a dominant feature are spaced apart. Flange
is wider than in other species of Gondisporites. G. raniganjensis is significantly
larger than Gondisporites sp.
Gondisporites raniganjensis is an important indicator spore that marks the Late
Permian in Collie Basin as well as other Gondwana Basins, such as the Late
Permian coals of India (Tripath et al. 2012) (Fig. 2.19).
Indotriradites surangei (Tiwari 1965) (Gondisporites sp.) (Fig. 2.20).
Occurrence: Upper Artinskian of Collie–Muja Basin (Collie Basin Bore B/1468
).
Description: Trilete, cavate. Outline circular to rounded-triangular. Distal face
hemi-spherical. Laesurae of variable length. Zona narrow, usually forming only an
uneven, equatorial ridge. Structure of ektexine intra-punctate. Sculpture echinate,
confined to distal face. Length of spines usually no more than 1 µ in length, and
2–3 µ apart.
Dimensions: 40–85 µ in equatorial diameter (30 specimens measured).
Remarks: Indotriradites surangei was described by Banerjee and D’Rozario
(1990) from the Permian of Eastern India. The same authors used this species as
one of the most important vegetational climatic indicator, in combining palynological zones with climatic and ecological phases. Their placing fits well with that
of Collie Basin. I. surangei enters the sedimentary sequence in the Collie Basin in
middle Artinskian, which corresponds to Banerjee and D’Rozario’s PNH5 zone.
It is therefore one of the environmental indicators of fern spores. In Appendices
D and E it is under Gondisporites sp. There is a close morphological resemblance
between the two genera. However, Gondisporites raniganjensis appears earlier
than Indotriradites surangei in the stratigraphic column (Appendices D and E).
2 Systematic Descriptions
to infra-granulate. Zona of uneven width, relatively narrow, often restricted to
merely a ridge.
Known distribution: Upper Permian of India (Bharadwaj 1962).
Discussion: Gondisporites was named by Bharadwaj for trilete spores with a
poorly developed zona. Bharadwaj noted an ‘inner body’ which appears to be the
nexine of a cavate spore. The uneven and usually narrow flange in Gondisporites
and sparsely dispersed spines distinguish it from Indotriradites.
Gondisporites raniganjensis (Bharadwaj 1962) (Fig. 2.19).
Occurrence: Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basins.
Description: Cavate, zonate. Trilete; laesurae simple, long, usually extending to
inner margin of flange. Amb circular to rounded-triangular. Proximal face pyramidal. Distal face hemi-spherical. Exine thinner on proximal face than on distal
face. Sculpture echinate, confined to distal face; spines are 1.5–3 µ long, and
3.5–4.5 µ long. Flange irregular in width in a single specimen.
Dimensions: 60–75 µ in equatorial diameter (15 specimens measured).
Remarks and comparisons: G. raniganjensis is distinguished by its coarse spinnate
sculpture; spines, though a large and a dominant feature are spaced apart. Flange
is wider than in other species of Gondisporites. G. raniganjensis is significantly
larger than Gondisporites sp.
Gondisporites raniganjensis is an important indicator spore that marks the Late
Permian in Collie Basin as well as other Gondwana Basins, such as the Late
Permian coals of India (Tripath et al. 2012) (Fig. 2.19).
Indotriradites surangei (Tiwari 1965) (Gondisporites sp.) (Fig. 2.20).
Occurrence: Upper Artinskian of Collie–Muja Basin (Collie Basin Bore B/1468
).
Description: Trilete, cavate. Outline circular to rounded-triangular. Distal face
hemi-spherical. Laesurae of variable length. Zona narrow, usually forming only an
uneven, equatorial ridge. Structure of ektexine intra-punctate. Sculpture echinate,
confined to distal face. Length of spines usually no more than 1 µ in length, and
2–3 µ apart.
Dimensions: 40–85 µ in equatorial diameter (30 specimens measured).
Remarks: Indotriradites surangei was described by Banerjee and D’Rozario
(1990) from the Permian of Eastern India. The same authors used this species as
one of the most important vegetational climatic indicator, in combining palynological zones with climatic and ecological phases. Their placing fits well with that
of Collie Basin. I. surangei enters the sedimentary sequence in the Collie Basin in
middle Artinskian, which corresponds to Banerjee and D’Rozario’s PNH5 zone.
It is therefore one of the environmental indicators of fern spores. In Appendices
D and E it is under Gondisporites sp. There is a close morphological resemblance
between the two genera. However, Gondisporites raniganjensis appears earlier
than Indotriradites surangei in the stratigraphic column (Appendices D and E).