Seeds

"One of the most important books in botanical history" - The Botanist's Library, Carolyn Fry "Amazing" - New Scientist "A book that vividly illustrates why plants remain so endlessly fascinating" - Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland Seeds are tiny parcels of life, poised to give rise to anything from ephemeral herbs to giant trees that can live for thousands of years. A close look at these tiny miracles of nature through a scanning electron microscope opens up a view into a fascinating and breathtakingly beautiful microcosm few people, even scientists, have ever seen before. The range of sizes, shapes, and patterns plants have evolved over 360 million years to perfect their one and only chance in life to travel is beyond our wildest imagination. In this astonishing book, artist Rob Kesseler and world-renowned botanist Wolfgang Stuppy, previously of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, present a unique and highly unusual natural history of seeds. The story of how seeds evolved to ensure the survival of their species and how they adapted to their natural environments including the animals they share them with is stunningly illustrated, combining close-up photography with digitally enhanced scanning electron micrographs. This book not only captivates and enlightens those interested in the natural world, but also will appeal to artists, designers, architects, and everyone else drawing inspiration from the wonderful and endlessly fascinating world in which we live.