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Validation of the names of two genera and

thirty-nine species of fossil spores and
pollen recorded from the Tertiary
sediments of India
Article in Taxon June 2011

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R. K. Saxena
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
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Saxena Names of genera and species of fossil spores and pollen

TAXON 60 (3) June 2011: 860865

Validation of the names of two genera and thirty-nine species of fossil

spores and pollen recorded from the Tertiary sediments of India
Ramesh K. Saxena
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India; rksaxena2207@yahoo.com
Abstract The names of thirty-nine species of fossil spores and pollen recognized by various palynologists, but not validly published, are validated by providing information on repository of their holotypes. Of these, 10 species are of pteridophytic spores,
2 species of gymnospermous pollen and 27 species of angiospermous pollen. The new species names are: Acanthotricolpites
brevicolpus R.K. Kar, Acanthotriletes triangulatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Assamialetes minutus A. Kumar & K. Takah.,
Biretisporites minimus A. Kumar, Conitricolporites triangulus R.K. Kar, Corrusporis indicus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Cycadaceaelagenella minor A. Kumar & K. Takah., Cycadaceaelagenella psilata A. Kumar & K. Takah., Dicolpopollis psilatus
A. Kumar & K. Takah., Hibisceaepollenites robustispinosus R.K. Kar, Incrotonipollis mannargudensis M. Acharya (based on
Crotonipollis mannargudensis M. Acharya), Intertriletes reticulatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Intrapunctosporis cacharensis
A. Kumar & K. Takah., Laevigatosporites robustus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Lanagiopollis reitsmae Phadtare & B. Thakur,
Lanagiopollis rugulatus Phadtare & B. Thakur, Lanagiopollis ruguloreticulatus Phadtare & B. Thakur, Meyeripollis triradiatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Palmidites minor A. Kumar, Palmidites psilatus A. Kumar, Polyvestibulopollenites assamicus
A. Kumar & K. Takah., Psilastephanocolpites elongatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Psilastephanocolpites kumarii R.K. Saxena
(Psilastephanocolpites minutus A. Kumar & K. Takah.), Psiloschizosporis scabratus R.K. Kar, Pteridacidites minor A. Kumar,
Pteridacidites tripuraensis R.K. Kar, Racemonocolpites thanjinathensis J. Mandal, Racemonocolpites trichotomosulcatus
J.Mandal, Retibrevitricolpites macroreticulatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Retipilonapites barakensis A. Kumar & K. Takah.,
Retistephanocolpites assamicus A. Kumar, Scabrastephanocolpites ovatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., Striatocolporites takahashii
R.K. Saxena (Striatocolporites minor A. Kumar & K. Takah.), Tamilnaduapollis reticulatus M. Acharya, Tricolporopilites
magnus M. Acharya, Verrualetes baculatus A. Kumar, Verrualetes excellensus M. Acharya, Verrucosisporites miocenicus
A. Kumar & K. Takah., and Verrutriporites sparsiverrucatus A. Kumar & K. Takah. The genera Conitricolporites R.K. Kar
(Type: C. triangulus R.K. Kar) and Tamilnaduapollis M. Acharya (Type: T. reticulatus M. Acharya) are also here validated
with the validation of their respective types.
Keywords angiospermous pollen; gymnospermous pollen; India; pteridophytic spores; Tertiary; validation of palynotaxa
names

Introduction
The spore-pollen records from the Indian Tertiary sediments, published from 1971 to 1988, were catalogued by Saxena
(1991) and the same, published from 1989 to 2004, by Saxena &
Trivedi (2006). During the preparation of the latter Catalogue,
the author came across two genera and thirty-nine species of
spores and pollen for which there were not validly published
names, because the authors in attempting to publish the species names did not cite information on where their types were
stored. Article 37.7 of the International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature (ICBN; McNeill & al., 2006) clearly states, as
one of the essential conditions for valid publication of a species name, that For the name of a new species or infraspecific
taxon published on or after 1 January 1990 of which the type is
a specimen or unpublished illustration, the single herbarium or
collection or institution in which the type is conserved must be
specified. Unless a name is validly published, it has no status
under the ICBN (Art. 6.3 and 12.1).
Three of these species were described from Gujarat in
western India (Phadtare & Thakur, 1990), four species from
Tamil Nadu in southern India (Acharya, 2000), and thirty-two
860

species from Meghalaya (Mandal, 1990), Assam (Kumar &

Takahashi; 1991, Kumar, 1994), and Tripura (Kar, 1990) in
north-eastern India. All the above mentioned species are based
on sound morphological features and are well recognizable
and therefore have correctly been designated as new species.
Some of them are important from biostratigraphical and palaeoecological points of view. However, one of the species is
described under an illegitimate (later homonym) genus name
(Crotonipollis Baksi & al., 1979, non Lima, 1976), and two species (Psilastephanocolpites minutus A. Kumar & K. Takah.
and Striatocolporites minor A. Kumar & K. Takah.) would
have been illegitimate (later homonyms) had they been validly
published. Trivedi (2005) even attempted to publish new names
(nomina nova) for these two later homonyms without realizing that the basionyms of his new names, not being validly
published, are not names under ICBN and therefore cannot be
the basis for replacement names. New names are published for
these three species. All species names, except the above three,
are ascribed to their original authors, whose descriptions and illustrations are the validating ones. The holotype of each species
name is also the same as designated by their original authors,
except where they were incorrectly designated.

TAXON 60 (3) June 2011: 860865

Kumar (1994) again attempted to introduce names for the

following 17 species that had been published by Kumar & Takahashi (1991) with the same specimen as holotype but again without mentioning where their holotypes were preserved: Acanthotriletes triangulatus, Corrusporis indicus, Intertriletes
reticulatus, Intrapunctosporis cacharensis, Laevigatosporites robustus, Verrucosisporites miocenicus, Assamialetes
minutus, Dicolpopollis psilatus, Meyeripollis triradiatus,
Polyvestibulopollenites assamicus, Psilastephanocolpites
elongatus, Psilastephanocolpites minutus, Retibrevitricolpites macroreticulatus, Retipilonapites barakensis,
Scabrastephanocolpites ovatus, Striacolporites minor,
and Verrutriporites sparsiverrucatus.
Continued usage of names that were not validly published
and the unnecessary introduction of new names, not permissible
under the ICBN, are causing pollution in palynological literature
worldwide. The only solution of this problem is to validate these
taxa names, as per requirements of ICBN, through a widely
circulated journal that is easily accessible to the majority of
botanists. These taxa names are, therefore, validly published
below, by giving reference of validating description and illustrations. The holotype, with reference to its illustration, slide
number and repository, is also provided for each species name.
The slides of Kar (1990), Mandal (1990) and Acharya
(2000) are stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute of
Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India. Dr. Arun Kumar (pers. comm.)
informed the author that his slides (Kumar & Takahashi, 1991;
Kumar, 1994) are stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the
K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India, whereas Dr. N.R. Phadtare (pers. comm.) informed the author that his slides (Phadtare
& Thakur, 1990) are stored in the Palynology Repository of
the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, India.

Validation of genera and species

names
Pteridophytic spores

Acanthotriletes triangulatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.:

Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 581582, pl. 13, fig. 8,
pl. 14, fig. 10, pl. 16, fig. 6, text-fig. 17. 1991 Holotype:
pl. 13, fig. 8, slide no. MA-226 (ii), 24.5102.7, stored
in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of
Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Limited, Dehradun, India.
Acanthotriletes triangulates A. Kumar in Palaeontogr.
Indica 2: 72, pl. 35, figs. 10, 14, pl. 39, fig. 8, pl. 40, figs.
1112, 15, pl. 41, fig. 4, pl. 45, fig. 5, pl. 46, fig. 3. 1994
(non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Biretisporites minimus A. Kumar, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Palaeontogr. Indica 2: 20, pl.
2, fig. 3, pl. 3, figs. 56. 1994 Holotype: pl. 2, fig. 3,
slide no. HF-221 (i), 68.0 100.5, stored in the Palynology

Saxena Names of genera and species of fossil spores and pollen

Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun,
India.
Corrusporis indicus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal Arts
Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 586587, pl. 18, fig. 10,
text-fig. 18. 1991 Holotype: pl. 18, fig. 10, slide no. MA233 (i), 66.4 101.8, stored in the Palynology Laboratory
of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Corrusporis indicus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica 2:
7980, pl. 42, figs. 12, 16, pl. 44, fig. 10, pl. 49, figs. 2, 5.
1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Intertriletes reticulatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 592, pl. 3, fig. 3, textfig. 19. 1991 Holotype: pl. 3, fig. 3, slide no. MD-223 (ii),
67.6112.5, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the
K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural
Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Intertriletes reticulates A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica 2:
37, pl. 9, fig. 3. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Intrapunctosporis cacharensis A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp.
nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac.
Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 592593, pl.
3, fig. 6, pl. 4, fig. 3, text-fig. 20. 1991 Holotype: pl. 4,
fig. 3, slide no. MD-224 (i), 45.396.3, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum
Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited,
Dehradun, India.
Intrapunctosporis (Intrapunctatosporis) cacharensis
A.Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica 2: 37, pl. 11, fig. 3, pl.
13, fig. 10, pl. 26 fig. 13. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Laevigatosporites robustus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.:
Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 594595, pl. 14, fig.
1, text-fig. 21. 1991 Holotype: pl. 14, fig. 1, slide no. MA223 (i), 66.4108.8, stored in the Palynology Laboratory
of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Laevigatosporites robustus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica
2: 7374, pl. 34, fig. 9. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Psiloschizosporis scabratus R.K. Kar, sp. nov.: Validating
description and illustration in J. Palynol. 26: 181, pl. 7, figs.
101105. 1990 Holotype: pl. 7, fig. 104, slide no. 9675/4/1,
U26/4, stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute
of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Pteridacidites minor A. Kumar, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Palaeontogr. Indica 2: 7475, pl. 35,
fig. 11. 1994 Holotype: pl. 35, fig. 11, slide no. MA-218
(i), 25.0105.7, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the
861

Saxena Names of genera and species of fossil spores and pollen

K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural

Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Pteridacidites tripuraensis R.K. Kar, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in J. Palynol. 26: 181, pl. 3, figs.
4446. 1990 Holotype: pl. 3, fig. 46, slide no. 9657/1/1,
N34/3, stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute
of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Kar (1990: 181) mentioned slide number of the holotype as
9655 but under explanation of plate the same was given as 9657.
The correct slide number, as given above, was ascertained from
the examination of slides stored in the museum of the Birbal
Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Verrucosisporites miocenicus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.:
Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 603604, pl. 13, figs.
1011, text-fig. 22. 1991 Holotype: pl. 13, fig. 10, slide no.
MA-218 (i), 26.298.5, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Verrucosisporites miocenicus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr.
Indica 2: 7576, pl. 34, fig. 3, pl. 35, fig. 6, pl. 39, fig. 5.
1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Gymnospermous pollen

Cycadaceaelagenella minor A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.:

Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 575, pl. 4, fig. 7, textfig. 15. 1991 Holotype: pl. 4, fig. 7, slide no. MD-224 (i),
58.7110.8, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the
K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural
Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Cycadaceaelagenella psilata A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.:
Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 575576, pl. 4, figs.
1112, pl. 12, fig. 6, text-fig. 16. 1991 Holotype: pl. 4,
fig. 12, slide no. MD-231 (ii), 62.899.0, stored in the
Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Angiospermous pollen

Acanthotricolpites brevicolpus R.K. Kar, sp. nov.: Validating

description and illustration in J. Palynol. 26: 181, pl. 8,
figs. 111113. 1990 Holotype (here designated): pl. 8, fig.
111, slide no. 9678/2/3, Q57/1, stored in the museum of the
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Kar (1990) designated three specimens (pl. 8, figs. 111113)
as holotype. One of them (pl. 8, fig. 111) is selected here as
holotype.
Assamialetes minutus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
862

TAXON 60 (3) June 2011: 860865

Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 539540, pl. 8, figs.

5, 9, text-fig. 4. 1991 Holotype: pl. 8, fig. 9, slide no.
MD-205 (i), 46.099.0, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Assamialetes minutus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica 2:
4950, pl. 24, figs. 56. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Conitricolporites R.K. Kar, gen. nov.: Validating description
in J. Palynol. 26: 194. 1990 Type: Conitricolporites triangulus R.K. Kar, sp. nov., monotypic.
The genus Conitricolporites R.K. Kar was not validly published because the species name indicating its type was not
validly published (McNeill & al., 2006: Art. 10.3 and 37.7).
The type, C. triangularis, is validated by providing the missing
information on the repository of the holotype.
Conitricolporites triangulus R.K. Kar, sp. nov.: Validating
description and illustration in J. Palynol. 26: 194, pl. 5, figs.
7072. 1990 Holotype: pl. 5, fig. 70, slide no. 9668/1/5,
J37/2, stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute
of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Dicolpopollis psilatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 544545, pl. 4, fig. 6,
pl. 12, fig. 8, pl. 17, fig. 9, text-fig. 5. 1991 Holotype: pl.
17, fig. 9, slide no. MA-226 (ii), 32.094.0, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum
Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited,
Dehradun, India.
Dicolpopollis psilatus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica 2:
2627, pl. 19, fig. 14, pl. 20, fig. 2. 1994 (non rite publ.,
Art. 37.7).
Hibisceaepollenites robustispinosus R.K. Kar, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in J. Palynol. 26: 194,
pl. 6, figs. 9091. 1990. Holotype (here designated): pl. 6,
fig. 90, slide no. 9655/1/2, P51/4, stored in the museum of
the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Kar (1990) designated two specimens (pl. 6, figs. 9091) as
holotype. One of them (pl. 6, fig. 90) is selected here as holotype.
Incrotonipollis mannargudensis M. Acharya, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration that of Crotonipollis
mannargudensis by Acharya in Geophytology 28: 26,
pl.1, figs. 3, 5, 9. 2000 Holotype: pl. 1, fig. 3, slide no.
11935, H50, stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Acharya (2000) attempted to describe her new species under Crotonipollis Baksi & al. (1979) which is an illegitimate
name, being a later homonym of Crotonipollis Lima (1976).
Jansonius & Hills (1991) proposed Incrotonipollis as a substitute name for Crotonipollis Baksi & al. (1979), non Lima
(1976). The species is here validated under Incrotonipollis, but
the name is still ascribed to M. Acharya who is therefore the
author of the new name under Art. 46.2 of the ICBN.

TAXON 60 (3) June 2011: 860865

Lanagiopollis reitsmae Phadtare & B. Thakur, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Rev. Palaeobot. Paly
nol. 63: 289, pl. III, 68. 1990 Holotype: pl. III, 78 (both
figures are of the same specimen in different foci), slide no.
Lig.-9/12 (S), stored in the Palynology Repository of the
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, India.
Lanagiopollis rugulatus Phadtare & B. Thakur, sp. nov.:
Validating description and illustration in Rev. Palaeobot.
Palynol. 63: 289290, pl. IV, 15. 1990 Holotype: pl. IV,
13 (all the three figures are of the same specimen in different foci), slide no. Lig.-9/2 (S), stored in the Palynology
Repository of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology,
Dehradun, India.
Lanagiopollis ruguloreticulatus Phadtare & B. Thakur, sp.
nov.: Validating description and illustration in Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 63: 287, 289, pl. III, 15. 1990 Holotype: pl.
III, 13 (all the three figures are of the same specimen in
different foci), slide no. Lig.-9/2 (S), stored in the Palynology Repository of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, India.
Meyeripollis triradiatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.:
Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 552, pl. 6, fig. 7,
text-fig. 6. 1991 Holotype: pl. 6, fig. 7, slide no. MD-219
(ii), 50.4102.9, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the
K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural
Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Meyeripollis triradiatus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica
2: 45, pl. 23, fig. 1. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Palmidites minor A. Kumar, sp. nov.: Validating description
and illustration in Palaeontogr. Indica 2: 3031, pl. 15, fig.
4, pl. 45, fig. 10. 1994 Holotype: pl. 15, fig. 4, slide no.
MD-224 (i), 58.7110.8, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Palmidites psilatus A. Kumar, sp. nov.: Validating description
and illustration in Palaeontogr. Indica 2: 31, pl. 15, figs.
12, 56, pl. 22, fig. 6, pl. 26, fig. 1, pl. 44, fig. 5. 1994
Holotype: pl. 15, fig. 2, slide no. MD-231 (ii), 62.899.0,
stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute
of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Limited, Dehradun, India.
Polyvestibulopollenites assamicus A. Kumar & K. Takah.,
sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull.
Fac. Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 559, pl.
5, fig. 10, pl. 8, fig. 4, pl. 12, fig. 3, pl. 15, figs. 1415,
text-fig. 7. 1991 Holotype: pl. 5, fig. 10, slide no. MD-231
(ii), 65.596.5, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the
K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural
Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Polyvestibulopollenites assamicus A. Kumar in Palaeon-

Saxena Names of genera and species of fossil spores and pollen

togr. Indica 2: 51, pl. 20, fig. 5, pl. 24, fig. 3, pl. 33, figs.
17, 19, pl. 38, figs. 9, 12, pl. 46, figs. 12, 16. 1994 (non rite
publ., Art. 37.7).
Psilastephanocolpites elongatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp.
nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac.
Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 560561, pl. 1,
fig. 13, pl. 2, fig. 8, pl. 17, fig. 12, text-fig. 8. 1991 Holotype: pl. 1, fig. 13, slide no. HF-223 (i), 50.397.0, stored
in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of
Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Limited, Dehradun, India.
Psilastephanocolpites elongates A. Kumar in Palaeontogr.
Indica 2: 1819, pl. 4, figs. 1718, pl. 5, fig. 5, pl. 18, fig.
8. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Psilastephanocolpites kumarii R.K. Saxena, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration that of Psilastephanocolpites minutus A. Kumar & K. Takah. in Bull. Fac.
Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 561, pl. 18,
fig. 2, text-fig. 9. 1991 Holotype: pl. 18, fig. 2, slide no.
MA-247 (ii), 26.7100.7, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Psilastephanocolpites minutus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr.
Indica 2: 3233, pl. 17, figs. 7, 12, pl. 19, figs. 6, 11, 16,
pl. 23, fig. 17, pl. 44, fig. 21, pl. 50, fig. 5. 1994 (non rite
publ., Art. 37.7).
Psilastephanocolpites assamensis G.K Trivedi in Palaeobotanist 54: 121. 2005 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
The new epithet honours Dr. Arun Kumar of the Centre
for Petroleum and Minerals Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran (Saudi Arabia).
Kumar & Takahashi (1991) described the new species
Psilastephanocolpites minutus but did not validly publish
the name, as they did not cite information on where the type
is stored (McNeill & al., 2006: Art. 37.7). A name for the new
species is therefore validly published above.
The epithet minutus cannot be used because of the existence of Psilastephanocolpites minutus (Salujha) R.K. Saxena in
Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 37: 290. 1982 (based on Stephanocolpites minutus Salujha & al., 1972: 282, pl. 3, figs. 7273. 1972).
Trivedi (2005: 121) mistakenly considered Psilastephanocolpites minutus A. Kumar & K. Takah. as a validly published
later homonym of Psilastephanocolpites minutus (Salujha) Saxena (1982) and proposed a substitute name (nomen novum)
Psilastephanocolpites assamensis. This name is not validly
published because its purported basionym was not validly published, and although reference was made to Kumar & Takahashis description, the missing information on the deposition
of the type was not provided.
Racemonocolpites thanjinathensis J. Mandal, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Palaeobotanist 37:
326, pl. 1, figs. 510. 1990 Holotype: pl. 1, fig. 5, slide
no. BSIP 9580 (T46/3), stored in the museum of the Birbal
Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
863

Saxena Names of genera and species of fossil spores and pollen

Racemonocolpites trichotomosulcatus J. Mandal, sp. nov.:

Validating description and illustration in Palaeobotanist
37: 326, pl. 1, figs. 14. 1990 Holotype: pl. 1, figs. 12
(both figures are of the same specimen in different magnifications), slide no. BSIP 9581 (L54/3), stored in the
museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany,
Lucknow, India.
Retibrevitricolpites macroreticulatus A. Kumar & K. Takah.,
sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull.
Fac. Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 563, pl.
14, fig. 8, text-fig. 10. 1991 Holotype: pl. 14, fig. 8, slide
no. MA-225 (i), 66.0102.0, stored in the Palynology
Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun,
India.
Retibrevitricolpites macroreticulatus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica 2: 7071, pl. 38, fig. 13. 1994 (non rite
publ., Art. 37.7).
Retipilonapites barakensis A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp. nov.:
Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac. Liberal
Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 564, pl. 6, figs. 6, 10,
text-fig. 11. 1991 Holotype: pl. 6, fig. 6, slide no. MD-219
(ii), 36.4109.7, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the
K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural
Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Retipilonapites barakensis A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica
2: 4647, pl. 23, figs. 14, 15. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Retistephanocolpites assamicus A. Kumar, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Palaeontogr. Indica 2:
99, pl. 16, fig. 5, pl. 17, fig. 11, pl. 18, fig. 4, pl. 50, fig. 7.
1994 Holotype (here designated): pl. 18, fig. 4, slide no.
MD-232 (i), 57.8108.0, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
The holotype designation (pl. 33, fig. 7) by Kumar (1994)
is not correct, hence pl. 18, fig. 4 is designated here as holotype.
Scabrastephanocolpites ovatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp.
nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac.
Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 567568, pl.
5, figs. 2, 4, text-fig. 12. 1991 Holotype: pl. 5, fig. 2,
slide no. MD-231 (ii), 67.2105.8, stored in the Palynology
Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun,
India.
Scabrastephanocolpites ovatus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr.
Indica 2: 34, pl. 17, figs. 3, 13, pl. 19, figs. 10, 20, pl. 33,
fig. 18. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Striatocolporites takahashii R.K. Saxena, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration that of Striatocolporites
minor A. Kumar & Takahashi in Bull. Fac. Liberal Arts
Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 568569, pl. 5, fig. 11, textfig. 13. 1991 Holotype: pl. 5, fig. 11, slide no. MD-229
864

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(i), 69.2104.6, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the

K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural
Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Striacolporites minor A. Kumar in Palaeontogr. Indica 2:
35, pl. 17, fig. 5. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).
Striatocolporites (Stritocolporites) assamensis G.K
Trivedi in Palaeobotanist 54: 121. 2005 (non rite publ.,
Art. 37.7).
The new epithet honours Dr. Kiyoshi Takahashi of the
Department of Geology, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Nagasaki
University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Kumar & Takahashi (1991) described the new species
Striatocolporites minor but did not validly publish the name,
as they did not cite information on where the type is stored
(McNeill & al., 2006: Art. 37.7). A name for the new species
is therefore validly published above.
The epithet minor cannot be used because of the existence of Striatocolporites minor Y.K. Mathur & A.S. Chopra
in Geosci. J. 8: 130131, pl. 6, fig. 110. 1987.
Trivedi (2005: 21) mistakenly considered Striatocolporites minor A. Kumar & K. Takah. as a validly published
later homonym of Striatocolporites minor Y.K. Mathur & A.S.
Chopra (1987) and proposed a substitute name (nomen novum)
Striatocolporites assamensis. This name is superfluous and is
to be rejected as its basionym is not validly published.
Tamilnaduapollis M. Acharya gen. nov.: Validating description in Geophytology 28: 22. 2000 Type: Tamilnaduapollis reticulatus M. Acharya, sp. nov., monotypic.
The genus Tamilnaduapollis M. Acharya was not validly
published because the species name indicating its type was not
validly published (McNeill & al., 2006: Art. 10.3 and 37.7). The
type, T. reticulata, is here validated by providing the missing
information on the repository of the holotype.
Tamilnaduapollis reticulatus M. Acharya, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Geophytology 28: 22,
24, pl. 1, figs. 1, 4, 6. 2000 Holotype: pl. 1, fig. 6, slide
no. 11932, Q17/4, stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni
Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
The genus Tamilnaduapollis M. Acharya is also here validated with the validation of its type Tamilnaduapollis reticulatus.
Tricolporopilites magnus M. Acharya, sp. nov.: Validating
description and illustration in Geophytology 28: 24, pl. 1,
figs. 11, 13. 2000 Holotype: pl. 1, fig. 11, slide no. 11939,
P16/4, stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute
of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Verrualetes baculatus A. Kumar, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Palaeontogr. Indica 2: 99100, pl.
50, figs. 1, 1314. 1994 Holotype: pl. 50, fig. 1, slide no.
MA-260 (i), 56.4103.6, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration,
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun,
India.

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Verrualetes excellensus M. Acharya, sp. nov.: Validating description and illustration in Geophytology 28: 24, pl. 1,
figs. 2, 8. 2000 Holotype: pl. 1, fig. 2, slide no. 11933,
Q42/2, stored in the museum of the Birbal Sahni Institute
of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India.
Verrutriporites sparsiverrucatus A. Kumar & K. Takah., sp.
nov.: Validating description and illustration in Bull. Fac.
Liberal Arts Nagasaki Univ., Nat. Sci. 31(2): 574, pl. 18,
fig. 11, text-fig. 14. 1991 Holotype: pl. 18, fig. 11, slide no.
MA-236 (i), 63.794.0, stored in the Palynology Laboratory of the K.D.M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun, India.
Verrutriporites sparsiverrucatus A. Kumar in Palaeontogr.
Indica 2: 84, pl. 46, fig. 13. 1994 (non rite publ., Art. 37.7).

Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to the Director, Birbal Sahni Institute of
Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India, for permission to publish the paper and
to Dr. Arun Kumar of Centre for Petroleum and Minerals Research
Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran,
Saudi Arabia and Dr. N.R. Phadtare of Wadia Institute of Himalayan
Geology, Dehradun, India, for providing information regarding repository of the holotypes of some of the species published by them. Thanks
are also due to Professor Vaughn M. Bryant, Director, Palynology
Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, Texas A. & M. University,
College Station, Texas, U.S.A., for going through the manuscript and
offering useful suggestions.

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