2 Systematic Descriptions
67
Artinskian. It is the most significant component of the Lower Permian, a major
component, and often sole component of Sakmarian tillite pollen. It can be called
a marker pollen.
Description: Monosaccate, radially symmetrical. Amb circular to sub-circular.
Corpus circular. Tetrad scar clearly visible where corpus is preserved. Trilete,
bilete or monolete. In trilete specimens scar usually not reaching equatorial margin. Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face, and sub-equatorially on
distal face. Endexine/nexine thicker than ektexine. The latter intensely radially
folded, the result of a flattened highly inflated saccus. Thin sections of the pollen
in the present study confirmed the folding over of the corpus nexine. Structure of
ektexine intra-granulate.
Dimension: Total diameter 40–140 µ. Corpus diameter 36–120 µ (100 specimens
measured).
Remarks and discussion: On examining hundreds of specimens of Parasaccites
(gondwanensis) from the same stratigraphic horizon, gradations were found from
specimens possessing a complete annular sub-equatorial fold to a partial fold.
Also, gradations from a thick rigid corpus exine to a thin corroded exine, to
absence of a corpus altogether. Gradations from inaperturate specimens through
monolete and bilete to perfect trilete have been observed in the present study.
Nygreen and Bourne (1967) stressed the importance of recognising transitions
among the forms rather than try and separate as many as possible on the basis of
minor differences.
Specimens with Parasaccites characteristics have been assigned to other genera, such as Plicatipollenites in Permian of Collie (Backhouse) and Permian of
India (Banerjee and D’Rozario). The stratigraphic and climatic spread of ‘Plicatipollenites’ and ‘Parasaccites’ in the Permian of Chuparbita Basin, India (Banerjee and D’Rozario) is interestingly the same as in the Collie Basin. Therefore, it
would be useful to combine the two forms under one genus; either Parasaccites or
Plicatipollenites.
Reconstructed specimen of Parasaccites gondwanensis (Fig. 2.47/4) on p.68.
67
Artinskian. It is the most significant component of the Lower Permian, a major
component, and often sole component of Sakmarian tillite pollen. It can be called
a marker pollen.
Description: Monosaccate, radially symmetrical. Amb circular to sub-circular.
Corpus circular. Tetrad scar clearly visible where corpus is preserved. Trilete,
bilete or monolete. In trilete specimens scar usually not reaching equatorial margin. Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face, and sub-equatorially on
distal face. Endexine/nexine thicker than ektexine. The latter intensely radially
folded, the result of a flattened highly inflated saccus. Thin sections of the pollen
in the present study confirmed the folding over of the corpus nexine. Structure of
ektexine intra-granulate.
Dimension: Total diameter 40–140 µ. Corpus diameter 36–120 µ (100 specimens
measured).
Remarks and discussion: On examining hundreds of specimens of Parasaccites
(gondwanensis) from the same stratigraphic horizon, gradations were found from
specimens possessing a complete annular sub-equatorial fold to a partial fold.
Also, gradations from a thick rigid corpus exine to a thin corroded exine, to
absence of a corpus altogether. Gradations from inaperturate specimens through
monolete and bilete to perfect trilete have been observed in the present study.
Nygreen and Bourne (1967) stressed the importance of recognising transitions
among the forms rather than try and separate as many as possible on the basis of
minor differences.
Specimens with Parasaccites characteristics have been assigned to other genera, such as Plicatipollenites in Permian of Collie (Backhouse) and Permian of
India (Banerjee and D’Rozario). The stratigraphic and climatic spread of ‘Plicatipollenites’ and ‘Parasaccites’ in the Permian of Chuparbita Basin, India (Banerjee and D’Rozario) is interestingly the same as in the Collie Basin. Therefore, it
would be useful to combine the two forms under one genus; either Parasaccites or
Plicatipollenites.
Reconstructed specimen of Parasaccites gondwanensis (Fig. 2.47/4) on p.68.