Authors : Puranik S.D.
Page Nos : 101-105
Description :
The fossil fruit is from Mohgaonkalanin Madhya Pradesh of Deccan Intertrappean Beds of central India of probable early Paleocene age. After breaking and itching the chert, the specimen appeared in the form of very massive and elongated structure, two central seedcavities are visible to the unaided eye. It is exposed in longitudinal plane and serial peel sections are taken along longitudinal and transverse plane. The distinctive features of the fruit are epicarp, fibrous mesocarp and stony endocarp with fibrous and fibro vascular bundles. Seeds possess endosperm. Vessels with spiral thickening. It indicates that,this fruit represent palm rather than a dicotyledonous family. Fruit 2.5 cm inlengthand 1 cm in breadth. Embedded in the endosperm small cavities presents might be represent cavities of embryo. Thus it is evident that the fossil fruit does not resemble any of the fossil fruit which were reported earlier from the Deccan Intertrappean beds. Its shows close approach to the tribe Borasseae of Palmae but not comparable with any genus of Borasseae ofpalmae in toto .Hence referred to new form genus Borasseo crponmohgaoense. The generic name being after the tribe Borasseae and specific name after the locality Mohgaonkalan.
