Palaeocene-Eocene marker pollen from India and tropical Africa

Abstract

The Palaeocene-Eocene epochs have witnessed a great floral diversification in tropical areas, which is also reflected in the pollen spectra. The important Indian stratigraphical marker taxa have been examined and a comparative study with extant material has provided botanical affinities to some of the taxa. Their comparison with those recorded in Africa leads to reflection on their palaeogeographical distribution. The stratigraphic ranges have been shown in the range chart. Some of the taxa common to India and Africa are: Retistephanocolpites williamsi, Spinizonocolpites spp., Tricolpites reticulatus, Proxapertites spp., Anacolosidites luteoides and Marginipollis spp. A number of Indian, as well as African taxa, are not recorded beyond the terminal Eocene; some of them could have migrated from India to other countries such as Gonystylus (Cryptopolyporites) to Malaysia and Gunnera (Tricolpites reticulatus) to Australia. The relative location and motion of India during these epochs could explain the singularity of the Early Tertiary Indian palynoflora.