One anatomically preserved ovulate cone similar to those of the cycadeoidalean/bennettitalean genus Williamsonia has been recovered from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) sediments of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. This well preserved and nearly complete specimen consists of a receptacle that bears tightly packed interseminal scales and ovulate sporophylls with terminal ovules. Sporophylls and interseminal scales extend from the receptacle around an arch of more than 300 degrees. Interseminal scales do not show an epidermis except at the apex, and the boundaries between adjacent interseminal scales are not discernible. In cross sections the ovules are round to elliptical at all levels, and the sarcotesta consists of small radial projections. There is no cupule. The vascularized nucellus is attached to the integument only at the chalaza, and it terminates apically in a cellular projection that fits tightly into the micropylar canal. No pollen chamber is produced. Several ovules show highly branched structures that are comparable to the pollen tubes of living araucarian conifers. Cellular megagametophytes and immature embryos demonstrate that archegonia are positioned laterally, in the apical region of the seed cavity. The superb preservation of these specimens allows for clarification of several systematic characters, and for the interpretation of pollination biology.

Key words: Bennettitales, Cycadeoidales, Pollen Tubes, Seed Cone, Williamsonia