Late Cretaceous palm stem Palmoxylon lametaei sp. nov. from Bhisi Village, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

A new fossil palm trunk Palmoxylon lametaei sp. nov. is described from the Lameta Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Bhisi area of Nand inland basin, Nagpur District, Maharashtra, India. The stem is well preserved revealing all the anatomical features identifiable to the modern arecoid palm (Phoenix). The fossil plant is characterized by the presence of cortical, dermal, sub-dermal and central zones with profuse roots in the bark region, indicating a basal part of the stem. Presence of fibrous and diminutive bundles only in the outer part of the stem is significant while a gradual transformation from compact to lacunar condition of ground tissue from outer to inner part of the stem suggests that the plants thrived under aquatic environment.