HITHERTO UNREPORTED ALGA, CHARA (C. palanense) SP. NOV. FROM THE EOCENE LIGNITE OF BARSINGHSAR NEAR BIKANER, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

The lignite deposite at Barsinghsar possess almost all plant groups either in form of spores and portions or fragmented portions of vegetative and fertile form. The present paper deals with a macroscopic green alga Chara L. collected from Barsinghsar Eocene lignite near Bikaner. The lignite sample has both parts; the vegetative portion (thallus / filament) and the fertile organs (globule and nucule) of the Chara L. This is first record of occurrence of all the body portions of an alga in one specimen. Palaeoecological conditions during Eocene in Rajasthan are also described.