L. Hably szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 19. 1986 (Budapest, 1986)

Bande, M. B.; Awasthi, N.: New thoughts on the structure and affinities of Viracarpon hexaspermum Sahni from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of India

Fig. 3 A-E. Camera lucida drawings of individual fruits of Viracarpon hexaspermum Sahni showing gradual formation of 6 partition walls by fusion of 6 perianth-like lobes free at the top. Also showing the vertical ridge on the inner surface of lobes with hair (Fig. A xlO, Fig. B-E. x 7) Affinities - As is the case with the structure, the affinities of Viracarpon Sahni have also been suggested with different taxa by different workers. HISLOP (1853) mentioned these type of fossils as mulberry-like fruits, SAHNI (1944) suggested the affinities of Viracarpon with the South American family Cyclanthaceae. VERMA (1958) while describing the ' fructification' of Shuklanthus superbum which was later merged with Viracarpon elongatum, suggested its affinities with the genus Triglochin of Scheuchzeriaceae (Juncaginaceae). However, CHITALEY (1954) pointed out that although Cyclanthaceae have a compact fructification, it is very different from Viracarpon in its alternate zones of male and female flowers. The fruit in this family is embedded in a fleshy disc, which is not the case in Viracarpon. Moreover, the unilocular ovary in Cyclanthaceae has many seeds. Similary, in Scheuchzeriaceae, as pointed out by CHITALEY the fructification is not compact and each flower has a well developed perianth or bract. Besides the above two families, CHITALEY (1954)