A middle to late triassic palynoflora from the kalapani limestone formation, malla johar area, tethys himalaya, India

Abstract

A Triassic palynoassemblage recovered from a horizon high in the Kalapani Limestone Formation of the Malla Johar Supergroup, Tethys Himalaya, includes spores and pollen referred to 44 genera and 68 species. Of these one genus — Tethysispora, and four species — Tethysispora unica, T. playfordii, Striatopodocarpites auriculatus and Lunatisporites tethysensis are new. This assemblage is diverse and contains elements similar to those occurring in Laurasian and Gondwanan palynofloras. The Tethyan Triassic sediments had their provenance from the Indian peninsula and the major plant life around the area was related to Indian mainland floras. However, a mild and distant European and Angara influence is also evident.