Provincialism in Gondwana floras

Abstract

The Gondwana sediments of India, ranging from Asselian to Rhaetian in age, contain remnants of a unique flora that in general composition is uniform all over. Two basic floral assemblages, i.e., Glossopteris-Assemblage and Dicroidium-Assemblage, can be recognized through Permian and Triassic, respectively. A synthesis of data on the distribution of plant fossils in different formations of the Gondwana Supergroup brings out an incipient provincialism throughout, particularly in the Barakar Formation. It is not yet understood if this provincialism is apparent or real.