BENNETTITES. 157 



Bennettites (Williamsonia) Carruthersi, sp. nov. 

 [PL X., and PI. XI. Fig. 8.] 



Type. Specimens in the British Museum from the Fairlight 

 clays, Fairlight, near Hastings. 



As a matter of convenience, a new specific name is adopted for 

 several specimens in the Rufford Collection. "Without a fuller 

 knowledge of their anatomical structure it is impossible to give 

 an exact specific definition, but the general characters may be 

 briefly expressed as follows : 



Inflorescence ovoid, surrounded by numerous linear bracts, 

 enclosing a central axis (from which seed-bearing peduncles and 

 inter seminal structures were given off) ; between the involucral 

 bracts and the periphery of the spadix there was a regular 

 reticulum of projecting ingrowths marking out the surface of 

 the inflorescence into small areolations. 



In dealing with detached inflorescences or portions of such 

 structures, it is impossible to clearly discriminate between different 

 specific forms, as distinct from portions of the same species or 

 the same inflorescence in different stages of development. The 

 most important features in the following specimens are those 

 which serve to connect them, on the one hand with the typical 

 Bennettites, and on the other with the Jurassic Williamsonia. 

 Some of the examples of these Wealden forms differ from the 

 majority in having short and broad bracts at the base of the 

 inflorescence ; these we may speak of as B. ( Williamsonia) 

 Carruthersi var. latifolius. I have ventured to associate the name 

 of Mr. Carruthers with the present species; it is to his work 

 that we are primarily indebted for our knowledge of Bennettites. 



V. 3177. PL X. Figs. 1, la, and U. 



This specimen is one of the most important of those to be 



described. In general form and appearance it is very similar to 



Bennettites Morierei as figured by Lignier, 1 except that in the 



present specimen the linear bracts are distinctly shown, about 



1 Lignier (1), pi. v. figs. 55 and 56. 



