BENNETTITES. 



153 



dealt with many years ago by Braun. 1 Eraun's genus WeltricMa 

 was instituted for a specimen discovered in the neighbourhood 

 of Baireuth, and referred to as a new genus of the Rhizanfhea. 

 Schenk expresses himself as very sceptical as to the correctness 

 of Braun's description of this fossil, and does not consider it of 

 any scientific value. 



In discussing the systematic position of Williamsonia and 

 other genera, Schenk very reasonably calls attention to the 

 absence of any satisfactory evidence in favour of a pandanaceous 

 alliance; he suggests that possibly Bennettites and Williamsonia 

 should be classed together, but refers to the absence of histological 

 characters as a serious obstacle to any decided conclusion. In 

 Zittel's ITandbuch, Schenk 3 refers to Williamsonia as the female 

 inflorescence of Bennettites, and refers to Nathorst's and Solms' 

 work in support of this opinion. Solms-Laubach 4 agrees with 

 Nathorst and Saporta & Marion as to the absence of trustworthy 

 evidence of the connection between Zamia gigas and Williamsonia. 

 After referring to Horiere's important specimen, he concludes : 5 

 "I have no doubt, therefore, that this specimen belongs to 

 Bennettites, but in saying this I have no intention of prejudging 

 the question of its relation to Williamsonia ; for it is still possible 

 that further discoveries may show the fructifications of Bennettites 

 and Williamsonia both belong to similar stems resembling the 

 stems of Cycadacea, and confirm the opinion of Williamson and 

 Carruthers. But until the truth of these conjectures is ascertained, 

 we must be content to leave the relationship of Williamsonia 

 undetermined." In another place, Solrns 6 draws attention to the 

 probability that we have long been familiar with the male 

 inflorescence of Bennettites in the fossil known as Williamsonia. 



In his account of Bennettites etrusca, Cap. and Solms, 7 Solms 

 figures and describes certain boat-shaped sacs which he regards 

 as pollen grains. He goes on to say that, if his interpretation 

 of these structures be correct, the inflorescence of Bennettites 



1 Braun (1). 



2 Schenk (A. 8), p. 190. 



3 Zittel (A.), Handbuch. p. 805. 



4 Fossil Botany, p. 370. 



5 Ibid. p. 372. 



6 Note on Bennettites in Saporta's Pal. Franc;, vol. iv. p. 303. 



7 Capellini and Solms, p. 202, pi. v. figs. 7 and 8. 



