XVI International Botanical Congess

With the introduction of fluorescence microscopy in the coal petrological studies certain plant remains have been convincingly recognised. Some plant remains (macerals in petrological parlance) such as pollen-spores (sporinite), cuticle (cutinite), resin, wax (resinite), algae (alginite), bitumen (bituminite), etc., which tend to fluoresce under ultra-violet or blue light excitation are essentially those of the hydrogen-rich liptinite (exinite) group and play an important role in various interpretations. While investigating Indian Tertiary lignites from the Neyveli (Miocene) and Panandhro (Eocene) lignite fields a typical fluorescing plant remain has been observed. The plant structure recorded, hitherto of unknown affinity, is typical in its morphological features and nature of occurrence. It is a spindle shaped uniseriate to multiseriate multicellular (radially arranged cells) structure always occurring in close association with the leaf cuticles (aligned parallel either at one or both the sides of leaves). The present paper aims to expose the finding so that the affinity of this plant remain might be ascertained . This, in turn will enhance our knowledge about the vegetation prevailing during the Tertiary Period (60 m yrs. ago) and will also help to deduce the past climatic conditions.