Studies in the Glossopteris flora of India - 39. Alatocarpus gen. nov.: A new platyspermic seed from the Singrauli coalfield

Abstract

A new genus, viz. Alatocarpus is instituted to contain certain large platyspermic seeds discovered in the Lower Gondwana beds of the Singrauli Coalfield, Uttar Pradesh. The species Samaropsis johillensis Saksena (1955) from the S. Rewa basin is transferred to Alatocarpus. The Singrauli material contains Alatocarpus illdicus sp. novo (the type species), some specimens comparable to Alatocarpus (Samaropsis) johillensis (Saksena) comb. nov., and Alatocarpus sp. It is suggested that Samaropsis pincombei Walkom (1928) may also belong to Alatocarpus. The bearing of the occur rence of the seeds and associated plants on the age of the beds is briefly discussed.