Abstract
A rich and excellently preserved spore and pollen flora has been recovered from the core samples. The Orikkai assemblage comprises spores of bryophytes, and pteridophytes and pollen grains of conifers and cycads. The nonsaccate and saccate pollen grains of conifers consisting of species of Araucariacites, Callialasporites and Podocarpidites constitute the predominant elements. The trilete spores are also found in considerable numbers.
The presence of species of Aequitriradites (A. spinulosus, A. verrucosus) Cooksonites (C. variabilis), Coptospora, Impardecispora (I. apiverrucatus), Foraminisporis, Contignisporites (C. glebulentus etc.), Cicatricosisporites (C. australiensis, C. hughesi etc.), Microcachrydites (M. antarcticus), Polycingulatisporites (P. reduncus), Staplinisporites (S. caminus), Turaucosporites (T. segmentatus) , and Crybelosporites, clearly indicates an Early Cretaceous (Neocomian-Aptian) age for these beds. The palynoflora of Orikkai compares favourably with the other Early Cretaceous floras of India. Further, the Orikkai palyno-assemblage also shows significant resemblances with the Early Cretaceous assemblages of Australia and South America.
