Guwahati- A team of researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, has discovered fossilized leaves estimated to be 24 million years old in the Makum coalfields of Assam. The leaves are believed to belong to an extinct plant species, shedding new light on prehistoric vegetation in the region.

The research team found that the fossil leaves bear a close resemblance to certain modern-day tropical plants. This discovery points to a historical botanical connection between northeastern India and the Western Ghats, suggesting that these tropical plant species were once more widespread than they are today.

The fossils have been linked to a plant group known as Nothofagaceae, which is now typically found only in the Western Ghats. These fossil leaves represent the oldest known record of this plant group in India. The researchers stated that during the final stages of the geological period in which these fossils formed, the region experienced a warm and humid climate suitable for such tropical flora.

However, the rise of the Himalayas brought significant climatic changes. Northeastern India began experiencing cooler temperatures and more rainfall, altering the environment. These changes posed a threat to tropical species, eventually leading to the disappearance of plants like Nothofagus from the region.

According to the researchers, this finding is a major contribution to the scientific understanding of ancient climates and vegetation patterns in the Indian subcontinent. It also highlights the environmental shifts that led to the extinction of many ancient tropical plant species.