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Seeds: Time Capsules of Life
In this lavish collection, artist Rob Kesseler and seed morphologist Wolfgang Stuppy of the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, present a natural history of seeds, illustrated with close-up photographs and scanning electron micrographs. The images afford an unprecedented view into a most astonishing microcosm, where even the tiniest examples are exquisitely beautiful and sophisticated—in fact Kesseler’s work has been called “mystifying,” “astounding,” and “awe-inspiring” by scientists and critics around the world. Seeds constitutes an essential source book not only for those fascinated by the natural world, but also for artists, designers, and anyone interested in the development of biological structures. This brand-new edition features a preface by HRH the Prince of Wales, himself an avid conservationist. With its studied narrative and beautiful photographic eye, this keepsake volume is a stunning tribute to the beauty and marvel of seeds.
Seeds are the most complex organs plants ever produce. A major keystone in the evolution of land plants, the first seeds appeared some 360 million years ago. Since then they have developed into highly sophisticated propagules that have enabled plants to dominate the Earth’s surface and conquer almost every possible habitat from the Antarctic to the hottest deserts. The diversity of shapes and sizes encountered in seeds is nearly endless and ranges from the impressive Seychelles nut at twenty kilos to the dustlike seeds of the orchids. No matter how small, packed into every seed is the complete genetic information needed to give rise to a new plant, whether it is a tiny herb or a giant rainforest tree. True time capsules of life, seeds may travel thousands of miles and, if necessary, wait for hundreds of years before germinating.
Seeds are the most complex organs plants ever produce. A major keystone in the evolution of land plants, the first seeds appeared some 360 million years ago. Since then they have developed into highly sophisticated propagules that have enabled plants to dominate the Earth’s surface and conquer almost every possible habitat from the Antarctic to the hottest deserts. The diversity of shapes and sizes encountered in seeds is nearly endless and ranges from the impressive Seychelles nut at twenty kilos to the dustlike seeds of the orchids. No matter how small, packed into every seed is the complete genetic information needed to give rise to a new plant, whether it is a tiny herb or a giant rainforest tree. True time capsules of life, seeds may travel thousands of miles and, if necessary, wait for hundreds of years before germinating.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 23, 2016
If you want to know all about plants and seeds then this is the book for you. Seeds are indeed the capsules of life and many are currently residing in The Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place in Sussex, England, which was set up in 2000, and also in similar seed banks throughout the world. An excellent idea as one never knows when a species can become extinct and what a brilliant idea for the future.
The photos are excellent, as is the book but I have a general issue with the shiny/glossy pages as they upset my psyche and the font has to be a six or a seven. I really don't like resorting to a magnifying glass. Apart from being time-consuming, it's tiring on my eyes.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, added the preface which was excellent as we all know what an avid supporter he is of anything to do with nature but please do enlarge the font!
The photos are excellent, as is the book but I have a general issue with the shiny/glossy pages as they upset my psyche and the font has to be a six or a seven. I really don't like resorting to a magnifying glass. Apart from being time-consuming, it's tiring on my eyes.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, added the preface which was excellent as we all know what an avid supporter he is of anything to do with nature but please do enlarge the font!
August 1, 2014
I was really disappointed that with such lovely photographs, the text was poorly illustrated. The text itself was much more technical than I was anticipating (for example, it assumes you remember the difference between an angiosperm and a gymnosperm.) I would have appreciated textbook-style cartoons illustrating the various processes discussed. And all too often the text would describe a fascinating plant or flower or seed but fail to provide a corresponding image.
The scientist in me is rather appalled at the utter lack of scale bars corresponding to all these lovely photos, although size is mentioned in the caption whenever the editor seemed to deign it necessary. And I would have appreciated a description of how the seeds were photographed and colored.
It seems to me that the audience for this book was not very clearly established. Is it a coffee table book? The text is too technical. Is it a text book? The text should have been outlined better and included cartoon illustrations. Is it an art book? Cut way down on the text. Is it marketing to provide support for the Millennium Seed Bank? Not accessible enough for general readers. Is it a book for plant aficionados? Maybe, but it seems like the seed photographs could have been organized by type or characteristic...
Lots of pretty pictures, but not a very useful book.
The scientist in me is rather appalled at the utter lack of scale bars corresponding to all these lovely photos, although size is mentioned in the caption whenever the editor seemed to deign it necessary. And I would have appreciated a description of how the seeds were photographed and colored.
It seems to me that the audience for this book was not very clearly established. Is it a coffee table book? The text is too technical. Is it a text book? The text should have been outlined better and included cartoon illustrations. Is it an art book? Cut way down on the text. Is it marketing to provide support for the Millennium Seed Bank? Not accessible enough for general readers. Is it a book for plant aficionados? Maybe, but it seems like the seed photographs could have been organized by type or characteristic...
Lots of pretty pictures, but not a very useful book.
September 27, 2007
Hi Nancy,
This book is a visual feast of things (seeds) we don't usually pay much attention to but are vital to our very survival. A few images can be seen on http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/15540...
Lately I have started to make seed like pods out of clay and I am much enjoying the process. As you know, my sense of the world resonates with that seeds containing life messages, hope and possibilities. Further to some of our discussions, I believe that people grow while seeking inspiration from the wonderment of life, nature. As we spend time in natural surroundings and take time to learn from it, we can choose to incorporate some of its principles in our lives. It is my hope to plant these types of idea seeds as I teach and co-lead workshops that include creativity and play while incorporating meaningful experiences. These can shed light on viewpoints about our emotions, mind, body and spirit and help us remember that we all have the resources within trough our individual, innate wisdom and guidance, just as seeds do!
In this sense the book has achieved much more than being a stunning visual tour of seed for me, it has contributed to my source of inspiration to be fully alive.
This book is a visual feast of things (seeds) we don't usually pay much attention to but are vital to our very survival. A few images can be seen on http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/15540...
Lately I have started to make seed like pods out of clay and I am much enjoying the process. As you know, my sense of the world resonates with that seeds containing life messages, hope and possibilities. Further to some of our discussions, I believe that people grow while seeking inspiration from the wonderment of life, nature. As we spend time in natural surroundings and take time to learn from it, we can choose to incorporate some of its principles in our lives. It is my hope to plant these types of idea seeds as I teach and co-lead workshops that include creativity and play while incorporating meaningful experiences. These can shed light on viewpoints about our emotions, mind, body and spirit and help us remember that we all have the resources within trough our individual, innate wisdom and guidance, just as seeds do!
In this sense the book has achieved much more than being a stunning visual tour of seed for me, it has contributed to my source of inspiration to be fully alive.
December 23, 2007
I've just started reading this book, and wow! What amazing photographs! The detail and clarity of these much larger than life images (super macro shots of tiny seeds take up most of the page) just astound me. The diversity is just so mind blowing! The introduction was good and really put into perspective for me just how important seeds are for the continuing survival of many thousands of plant species and also how vital they are to our existence and our survival. Amazing! I haven't gotten too far yet and it's already getting a bit too scienc-ey for me, but I'm still going! The language at least is a bit easier to understand than science textbooks.
June 1, 2010
Wow, what a beautiful book!
This is an extra large book with breathtaking microscope photography of various seeds.
Not only are the pictures wonderful, but the writing is EXCELLENT! It's not every day I can say that about a non-fiction book. I was just planning on looking at the pictures, but this book was written so exquisitely that I couldn't help but keep reading!
It doesn't matter at all if you care one lick about the subject, this book is very worth your time!
This is an extra large book with breathtaking microscope photography of various seeds.
Not only are the pictures wonderful, but the writing is EXCELLENT! It's not every day I can say that about a non-fiction book. I was just planning on looking at the pictures, but this book was written so exquisitely that I couldn't help but keep reading!
It doesn't matter at all if you care one lick about the subject, this book is very worth your time!
May 10, 2009
A biology lesson to beat all others and it is so visually extraordinary that i had to keep reminding myself that these images were just photographed and not tampered with and yes they are on our planet.
How is it that nature is so stunning and so tripy and so loving to us, yet we pay it so little attention?
How is it that nature is so stunning and so tripy and so loving to us, yet we pay it so little attention?
August 13, 2010
Likewise, paired with Pollen this book rocks. rad photos of flower parts really close up with incredible diversity. the scope of evolutionary history of plants blows my mind and i love the photographs too they are truly gorgeous. plants have been evolving for so long, they are magical and wonderful.
October 15, 2013
Great macro images
November 6, 2014
Beautiful photographs of seeds - the shapes and colours are just fantastic.
ANON
ANON
July 3, 2012
simply amazing microscopic photography here of common and not commons plants...loved it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews