On the structure of buriadia heterophylla (feistmantel) Seward & Sahni and its fructification

Abstract

The paper gives a detailed account of the morphological and anatomical characters ofBuriadia heterophylla(Feistmantel) Seward & Sahni based on a fresh examination of the hand specimens in the type collection, located in the Museum of Geological Survey of India, Calcutta, and of new material collected by us from the type locality. Laterally attached solitary anatropous seeds have been discovered in a specimen of the type collection (selected lectotype) and in many duplicates. Maceration of the seed substance shows that they were gymnospermously pollinated by unwinged monocolpate grains. While confirming the gymnospermous character ofBuriadia, the present study shows that the absence of an organized female cone or any sign of its reduction in the plant indicates that it is either a conifer of an unusual type or a curious plant which is not assignable to any known group of gymnosperms.