Alien elements in the Gondwana Flora of India

Abstract

The occurrence of northern hemispheric taxa in Gondwana is considered as alien to the Glossopteris and Dicroidium floras of the Southern Hemisphere. The morphology, evolutionary lineages, and stratigraphic distribution of Euramerian, Cathaysian and Angaran forms in the Gondwana flora of India are examined in view of their latest discoveries in the Permian and Triassic sequences. The study indicates that some of the elements of contemporaneous floras possess characteristic affiliation with the Gondwana flora, likewise, some of the Gondwana elements exemplify the comparative characters of northern forms. Possible linkages, association, existence and ancestry of the Gondwana flora vis a vis Northern floras are discussed.