Fruits of Euphorbiaceae from the Late Cretaceous Deccan Intertrappean Beds of India

Abstract

Premise of research. Fruits of Euphorbiaceae are identified from the late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) cherts of the Deccan Intertrappean Beds of central India. These fruits, along with previously described silicified woods, are among the oldest known representatives of this family.Methodology. Physical sections, anatomical peels, and micro-computed tomography scanning were used to study two tricarpellate euphorbiaceous fruit types in the Mohgaonkalan chert, each with schizocarpic morphology and a single ellipsoidal seed per locule.Pivotal results. Euphorbiotheca deccanensis sp. nov. has subglobose to oblate fruits 4.5-5.0 mm in diameter, with zones of separation along each of the septa, weak or absent central column, and arillate seeds with a sturdy seed coat, a rounded chalazal scar, and a pair of ventral facets near the seed apex. Surangeocarpon mohgaoense D.K. Kapgate, S.P. Patil, & N.P. Illamkar also has oblate to globose trilocular fruits, but they are smaller, 1.5-2 mm in diameter, and have a relatively stout central column and seeds with a thin, wrinkly seed coat.Conclusions. The recognition of these two euphorbiaceous fruit types augments the prior recognition of phyllanthaceous fruits, indicating that these two related families of Malpighiales were well established by the latest Cretaceous in India-supporting prior reports based on fossil woods from the same stratigraphic level.