A new species of Indian kino tree from the Early Eocene forests of northwestern India

Abstract

Two impressed leaflet remains described here as a new species Pterocarpus emarginaticus Patel, Rana and Khan sp.nov., showing close resemblance with the extant leaflets of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.(Fabaceae), commonly known as the Indian kino tree, have been recorded from the Early Cenozoic sedimentary sequences of the Gurha opencast lignite mine (Early Eocene, Palana Formation), Rajasthan, northwestern India.The diagnostic macromorphological characteristics of the fossil leaflets are elliptical to obovate shape, microphyll size, acute base, characteristic emarginate apex, pulvinate petiolule, entire margin, brochidodromous secondary veins, presence of thin intersecondary veins and reticulate tertiary veins.This is reliable fossil evidence of leaflets similar to modern P. marsupium from India and abroad.The occurrence of this species and the earlier reported angiosperm, including Fabaceae taxa from the same formation, suggest the existence of a tropical, warm and humid climate during deposition.