Morphotypes of Noeggerathiopsis-leaves from Pench Valley Coalfield of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India

Noeggerathiopsis, one of the most imperative genera of the Lower Gondwana, has thus far not been satisfactorily delimited into species. The artificial classification of the genus based on minor differences in morphology and cuticular characteristics of isolated leaves does not reflect natural biodiversity. The morphology of Noeggerathiopsis hislopii is reexamined and some suggestions are offered towards clarification on the basis of the specimens collected from the different collieries of Pench Valley Coalfield, Satpura Gondwana Basin, India. The proposal here, is to establish 3 different morphotypes i.e. 3 different varieties of N. hislopii that might be considered natural instead of making three new species on the basis of minor differences in morphology.