Stratigraphic Appraisal of 'Kota Flora'

The term 'Kota flora' is generally applied to the plant fossils reported from the plant beds of the Kota group as defined by King. This flora having an intermediate status stratigraphically between Early Jurassic 'Rajmahal flora' and Late Jurassic to to Early Cretaceous 'Jabalpur flora' is involved in two controversies. The first controversy relates to the Liassic fish fauna found in Kota limestone overlying the plant beds in the Godavari valley area; the second relates to Early Cretaceous marine fauna found associated with this Middle to Late Jurassic flora. The paper presents a stratigraphic appraisal of this controversial flora in the light of recent mapping, palynological and radiometric data available from related Upper Gondwana formations. These point to the possibility that Rajmahal Trap and Deccan Trap flows were initiated probably during Aptian times (Early Cretaceous).