The Glossopteris flora of Manuguru Area, Godavari Graben, Telangana, India

Abstract

First comprehensive record of the Glossopteris flora from the Barakar Formation of the Prakasham Khani open cast mines II and IV of Manuguru Area, Godavari Graben, comprising detailed systematic analyses of the plant fossils is provided. The assemblage is well preserved and represented by pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Pteridophytes comprise Phyllotheca australis and equisetalean axes of the order Equisetales, whereas, gymnosperms include Gangamopteris cyclopteroides and seventeen species of Glossopteris–Glossopteris angustifolia, G. arberi, G. communis, G. cordatifolia, G. damudica, G. gigas, G. indica, G. lanceolatus, G. longicaulis, G. mohudaensis, G. musaefolia, G. oldhamii, G. pseudocommunis, G. rhabdotaenioides, G. stenoneura, G. taenioides and G. tenuifolia belonging to the order Glossopteridales and several leaves of Noeggerathiopsis hislopi besides Cordaites sp. of Cordaitales. Northern genus Cordaites is recorded for the first time from the area and substantiates earlier records from the Lower Gondwana horizons of India. The present study adds to the knowledge of the Glossopteris flora of India, especially that of the Godavari Graben from where the plant fossil records are scanty. The floral assemblage compares fairly well with those recorded from the Barakar Formation of other Lower Gondwana basins of peninsular India.