2 Systematic Descriptions
43
(Fig. 2.23f). Exine smooth to intra-punctate, with low-relief verrucae over contact
area.
Dimensions: 45–63 µ (35 specimens measured).
Remarks: Lalmatiasporites indicus has been described from the Lower Permian of
India. The close resemblance of L. indicus to Punctatisporites gretensis is apparent
and has also been discussed by Banerjee and D’Rozario (1990). However, as also
pointed out by these authors, the coarse verrucate sculpture in the proximal area
is too distinct to include it in P. gretensis.
Rigby and Hekel (1977) designated a pollen of the same appearance as Punctatisporites sp. It is treated in the present study as a separate species and I
suggest that it be redefined and designated as new species; suggested names,
Punctatisporites lalmatiasporites or Punctatisporites indicus.
Punctatisporites fungosus (Balme 1963) (Fig. 2.24).
Occurrence: Upper Permian; found only in the uppermost samples of the Upper
Permian sequence in the Collie–Muja Basin.
Description: Amb. triangular sub-circular. Trilete; laesurae simple, extending 2/3
to entire spore radius. Spore is large (average 100 µ in equatorial diameter, with
a thick exine, 5–7 µ. Exine consists of a very thick endexine (nexine) and very
thin sculptured ektexine. The ektexine is usually difficult to distinguish as a separate entity; clearly distinguishable in pollen microtome section (Fig. 2.24c). The
endexine is often corroded and has a pitted look. The perforations are randomly
distributed and as seen in the microtome section are not a true structure of the
exine.
Dimensions: 75–156 µ diameter (20 specimens measured).
Remarks and comparison: Punctatisporites fungosus was described by Balme
(1963) from the Triassic of Western Australia. Balme does not mention the presence of a thin ektexine. However, this feature is distinguishable only in microtome
sections of the spore.
The importance of this species is as a stratigraphic marker in the Collie Basin.
The Punctatisporites fungosus spore belongs to a plant that appeared at the end of
the Permian and continued into the Triassic. Thick exine spores are found today
among the ferns of the Dicksoniaceae.
Genus Retusotriletes (Naumova 1953; Richardson 1965).
Diagnosis: Trilete. Laesurae clear. Amb sub-circular to circular. Contact area has
often thickened exine. Exine smooth.
Known distribution: Devonian of Scotland (Richardson 1965). In Australia: Devonian of Carnarvon Basin (Balme and Hassell 1962), Carboniferous of Western
Australia (Balme 1960), Upper Devonian of the Canning Basin (Balme and
Hassel), Permian of New South Wales (Balme and Hennelly 1956), Permian
of Northern Territory (Evans 1964), Devonian of Queensland (de Jersey 1962).
In India: Upper Permian of Raniganj coal fields (Bharadwaj 1962), Permian of
Brazil (Kazzulo-Klepzig et al. 2009).
43
(Fig. 2.23f). Exine smooth to intra-punctate, with low-relief verrucae over contact
area.
Dimensions: 45–63 µ (35 specimens measured).
Remarks: Lalmatiasporites indicus has been described from the Lower Permian of
India. The close resemblance of L. indicus to Punctatisporites gretensis is apparent
and has also been discussed by Banerjee and D’Rozario (1990). However, as also
pointed out by these authors, the coarse verrucate sculpture in the proximal area
is too distinct to include it in P. gretensis.
Rigby and Hekel (1977) designated a pollen of the same appearance as Punctatisporites sp. It is treated in the present study as a separate species and I
suggest that it be redefined and designated as new species; suggested names,
Punctatisporites lalmatiasporites or Punctatisporites indicus.
Punctatisporites fungosus (Balme 1963) (Fig. 2.24).
Occurrence: Upper Permian; found only in the uppermost samples of the Upper
Permian sequence in the Collie–Muja Basin.
Description: Amb. triangular sub-circular. Trilete; laesurae simple, extending 2/3
to entire spore radius. Spore is large (average 100 µ in equatorial diameter, with
a thick exine, 5–7 µ. Exine consists of a very thick endexine (nexine) and very
thin sculptured ektexine. The ektexine is usually difficult to distinguish as a separate entity; clearly distinguishable in pollen microtome section (Fig. 2.24c). The
endexine is often corroded and has a pitted look. The perforations are randomly
distributed and as seen in the microtome section are not a true structure of the
exine.
Dimensions: 75–156 µ diameter (20 specimens measured).
Remarks and comparison: Punctatisporites fungosus was described by Balme
(1963) from the Triassic of Western Australia. Balme does not mention the presence of a thin ektexine. However, this feature is distinguishable only in microtome
sections of the spore.
The importance of this species is as a stratigraphic marker in the Collie Basin.
The Punctatisporites fungosus spore belongs to a plant that appeared at the end of
the Permian and continued into the Triassic. Thick exine spores are found today
among the ferns of the Dicksoniaceae.
Genus Retusotriletes (Naumova 1953; Richardson 1965).
Diagnosis: Trilete. Laesurae clear. Amb sub-circular to circular. Contact area has
often thickened exine. Exine smooth.
Known distribution: Devonian of Scotland (Richardson 1965). In Australia: Devonian of Carnarvon Basin (Balme and Hassell 1962), Carboniferous of Western
Australia (Balme 1960), Upper Devonian of the Canning Basin (Balme and
Hassel), Permian of New South Wales (Balme and Hennelly 1956), Permian
of Northern Territory (Evans 1964), Devonian of Queensland (de Jersey 1962).
In India: Upper Permian of Raniganj coal fields (Bharadwaj 1962), Permian of
Brazil (Kazzulo-Klepzig et al. 2009).