2 Systematic Descriptions
69
Fig. 2.48 a Distal face;
outline of corpus mostly
visible. Saccus roots forming
a semi-circular ‘sulcus’.
b Proximal face with a
partial ‘tetrad’ scar
Potoniesporites. The cappula was regarded by Bharadwaj as a most distinct feature, usually bordered by folds. The emended form could include other monosaccate genera, described previously, such as Vestigisporites Balmei reported by Hart
(1960) from the Lower Permian coal measures of Tanganyika. Crucisaccites (Lele
and Maithy 1964) closely resembles Potoniesporites and is probably congeneric
with it. Sahnites (Pant 1955) is regarded in the present study as congeneric with
Potoniesporites. Backhouse (1991) kept the two genera separate.
Potoniesporites neglectus (Potonie and Lele 1951) (Fig. 2.48).
Occurrence: Sakmarian to Upper Permian. More common in Sakmarian of Collie
Basin.
Description: Monosaccate, bilaterally symmetrical. Monolete. Scar varies in
length from a few microns to almost entire width of corpus, occasionally followed by folds. Corpus oval to sub-circular in outline. Nexine smooth and thin.
Saccus ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and sub-equatorially on
distal face, coarsely structured; intra-reticulate.
Dimensions: 74–180 µ (20 specimens measured).
Remarks: P. bilateralis closely resembles P. neglectus (Potonie and Lele 1951),
the sole difference pointed out by Singh (1964) being the ‘trapezoidal’ corpus
and finer structure. However, both features are not significant enough to separate
69
Fig. 2.48 a Distal face;
outline of corpus mostly
visible. Saccus roots forming
a semi-circular ‘sulcus’.
b Proximal face with a
partial ‘tetrad’ scar
Potoniesporites. The cappula was regarded by Bharadwaj as a most distinct feature, usually bordered by folds. The emended form could include other monosaccate genera, described previously, such as Vestigisporites Balmei reported by Hart
(1960) from the Lower Permian coal measures of Tanganyika. Crucisaccites (Lele
and Maithy 1964) closely resembles Potoniesporites and is probably congeneric
with it. Sahnites (Pant 1955) is regarded in the present study as congeneric with
Potoniesporites. Backhouse (1991) kept the two genera separate.
Potoniesporites neglectus (Potonie and Lele 1951) (Fig. 2.48).
Occurrence: Sakmarian to Upper Permian. More common in Sakmarian of Collie
Basin.
Description: Monosaccate, bilaterally symmetrical. Monolete. Scar varies in
length from a few microns to almost entire width of corpus, occasionally followed by folds. Corpus oval to sub-circular in outline. Nexine smooth and thin.
Saccus ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and sub-equatorially on
distal face, coarsely structured; intra-reticulate.
Dimensions: 74–180 µ (20 specimens measured).
Remarks: P. bilateralis closely resembles P. neglectus (Potonie and Lele 1951),
the sole difference pointed out by Singh (1964) being the ‘trapezoidal’ corpus
and finer structure. However, both features are not significant enough to separate