BENNETTITES. 1 37 



main stem. The apex of the fertile shoots has the form of a 

 hemispherical parenchymatous cushion, from which are given off 

 a number of closely crowded stalks united into a club-shaped 

 group ; between these stalks or seed-bearing cords there occur 

 smaller structures, the so-called interstitial organs. External to 

 these is a comparatively broad parenchymatous band of tissue, 

 which arises from a lower level on the cushion than the 

 cords and interstitial organs. Surrounding this homogeneous 

 peripheral tissue we have several lanceolate bracts encircling 

 the entire fructification. Towards the upper surface of the 

 spadix, and near its periphery, there are numerous seeds situated 

 just internal to the homogeneous tissue, which becomes rather 

 more strongly developed towards the apex of the fructification. 

 Each seed lies in a flask-shaped pit, and is borne on a long 

 stalk or cord ; in some seeds the structure of the embryo with 

 its radicle, plumule, and two cotyledons, may be clearly 

 recognized. Solms suggests that the homogeneous tissue which 

 overtops the spadix and contains the seeds, has been formed 

 by the union of interstitial organs. A surface view of the 

 terminal portion of the fructification would present a number 

 of areola3, probably raised to the form of pyramidal projections, 

 and between these areol or distal ends of interstitial organs, 

 there would be seen the narrow openings leading to the flask- 

 shaped seed cavities. 



In his description of Bennettites, Solms compares its fructifica- 

 tion with that described by Saporta and Marion as Willianisonia 

 Morierei from the Oxfordian of Vaches-Noires. This French 

 specimen, with its histological details preserved in unusual 

 perfection, has recently been thoroiighly examined and described 

 by Prof. Lignier, of Caen. His description clearly shows that 

 Saporta's and Marion's species must be referred to Sennettites, 

 and is closely allied to the English species of that genus. 1 In 

 the main Lignier's description agrees with those of Carruthers 

 and Solms ; there are, however, one or two points in which 

 the French author's account is slightly at variance with that 

 of the former writers. Sennettites Morierei has the form of 

 a detached ovoid fossil, with a length of 55 mm. and a breadth 



1 Lignier. See also Seward (3) for a short abstract of Lignier's paper. 



