Boghaunters

Williamsonia

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Corduliidae
Genus: Williamsonia

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Williamsonia: //ˌwɪliˈæmsoʊniə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Williamsonia fletcheri genitalia illustration - E B Williamson by Williamson, Edward Bruce. Used under a Public domain license.

Williamsonia fletcheri 56575688 by Maurice Raymond. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Williamsonia fletcheri 15167084 by Susan Blayney. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Williamsonia lintneri marie 34565257 by Marie Studer. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Williamsonia lintneri 2701903 by Nick Block. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Williamsonia is an extinct genus of female seed cones, described as representing the ovulate reproductive structures within the Bennettitales order, with fossils found across the globe from the Middle Triassic to Late Cretaceous periods.

Physical Characteristics

Monosporangiate female seed cones varying from pyriform, ovoid, subspheroidal, to oblate spheroid shapes, reaching up to 15 cm in diameter, with 25–50 ovules per cone.

Identification Tips

Cones are identifiable by their size, shape, and structure, including the ovulate receptacle and bracts.

Habitat

Fossils found in various environments corresponding to the Middle Triassic to Late Cretaceous epochs.

Distribution

Fossils are known worldwide, including Europe, Australia, North America, East Asia, India, and South America, ranging from the Middle Triassic to Late Cretaceous.

Reproduction

The cones are thought to be wind pollinated, increasing in size during maturation and potentially attracting seed dispersers.

Similar Taxa

Weltrichia
Zamites
Eoginkgoites
Kimuriella
Wielandiella

Misconceptions

Occasionally described as 'flowers', but these structures do not share homology with angiosperm flowers.