Revision of Early Cretaceous angiosperm remains from the Rajmahal Basin, India, with notes on the palaeoecology of the Pentoxylon plant

In India, potential sources of angiosperm macrofossils are the intertrappean cherts of Rajmahal Hills, palynologically and radiometrically dated as Barremian–Aptian. However, our revision of the previously reported flower-like and fruit-like fossils from the Rajmahal Formation does not confirm their angiosperm affinities. Instead they are related to bennettitalean and pentoxylean gymnosperms. At the same time, the underground storage organs and supposed feeding marks on Carnoconites seeds revealed in the course of this study suggest angiosperm-like habits in the Indian Pentoxylon plant.

► The alleged Rajmahal angiosperms are re-assigned to bennettites and pentoxyleans. ► The supposed fruit is an underground storage organ suggesting geophytic habit. ► Feeding marks on Carnoconites are evidence of semenivory in Rajmahal community.