Himalayan Geology, Vol. 21 (1& 2), 2000, pp. 43-52, Printed in India

Some Fossil Leaves from the Kasauli Formation of Himachal Pradesh, North-West India

J.S. GULERIA, R. SRIVASTAVA & M. PRASAD
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India
E-mail:guleriajs@yahoo.com

The paper reports the occurrence of fossil leaves of extant genera,viz. Dipterocarpus, Amoora, Bambusa, Bauhinia and Cassia in the Kasauli Formation of Himachal Pradesh. Among these, the first the genera are being reported for the first time from the Kasauli Formation. Besides, plam leveaes showing affinities with tropical fan palms and legume leaflets have also been described under the artificial genera Amesoneuron and Leguminophyllum from these Pre-Siwalik sediments. Collectively, the fossil plants indicate that the area was occupied by a mixed lowland forest comprising moistdeciduous to evergreen elements. The presence of Dipterocarpus indicates that the age of Kasauli Formation may not be older than Lower Miocene.