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 enable 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 dust-like 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 wait, if necessary, for hundreds of years before they germinate. In this book, artist Rob Kesseler and Wolfgang Stuppy of 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 the tiniest examples present us with the most exquisite beauty and sophistication. This volume is an essential source book not only for those fascinated by the natural world, but also for artists and designers, and anyone interested in the development of biological structures. We are all familiar with seeds, but never has their structure been revealed so powerfully. Published in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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Seeds is a very impressive book, as a work of science as well as a work of art! It is very well written, beautifully illustrated and very well produced. Congratulations to the authors and publishers. I recommend this book to all botanists, scientists and amateurs alike. The price is more than right! --Frits Adema, Blumea, Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography
This marvelous book is a lively account of seeds and their significance illuminating their beauty and diversity through a series of stunning images. --Professor Sir Peter Crane, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
This marvelous book is a lively account of seeds and their significance illuminating their beauty and diversity through a series of stunning images. --Professor Sir Peter Crane, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
This marvelous book is a lively account of seeds and their significance illuminating their beauty and diversity through a series of stunning images. --Professor Sir Peter Crane, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
This marvelous book is a lively account of seeds and their significance illuminating their beauty and diversity through a series of stunning images. --Professor Sir Peter Crane, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
About the Author
Wolfgang Stuppy is the seed morphologist for the Millennium Seed Bank Project at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. At the heart of this large international project, which collects and stores seeds and fruits from all over the world, Dr. Stuppy has found the ideal environment to feed his passion for research into the astonishing diversity of seeds and fruits. Visual artist Rob Kesseler is a professor at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. He has a long career of working with plants as a source of inspiration for his work. In 2001 he was appointed NESTA Fellow at Kew, where he has since been working with microscopic plant material. His work has been shown in museums and galleries in the United Kingdom and Europe.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book after hearing the author interviewed on Radio 4, not only did it live up to my expectations, it far exceeded them. The photographs are utterly spectacular, and inspiring. I would recommend it to anyone interested in art and design - the colours, structures and shapes revealed in these tiny, often miniscule seeds are a revelation.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seeds: Time Capsules of Life
24 Jan 2008
By E. Mcginnis
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
I saw this book in the library and after checking it out once, twice and then three times, I knew I had to own it.
I can't really comment on the text, I don't know enough about the subject. I only know that I read the book and was facinated by the more scientific information. But I can say that I never tire of looking at the pictures. They are simply beautiful. When I want inspiration for building a new clay form, when I am looking for a color theme for painting or crocheting or glazing, I find it in the photographs in Seeds. The quality of the photography is excellent and the selection of seeds chosen for the book is varied enough that each picture illustrates something new.
This is not a book that once read, has nothing more to offer. I would recommend Seeds:Time Capsules of Life even to those who only wanted to look at the photographs and be inspired by the design and color revealed inside.
I can't really comment on the text, I don't know enough about the subject. I only know that I read the book and was facinated by the more scientific information. But I can say that I never tire of looking at the pictures. They are simply beautiful. When I want inspiration for building a new clay form, when I am looking for a color theme for painting or crocheting or glazing, I find it in the photographs in Seeds. The quality of the photography is excellent and the selection of seeds chosen for the book is varied enough that each picture illustrates something new.
This is not a book that once read, has nothing more to offer. I would recommend Seeds:Time Capsules of Life even to those who only wanted to look at the photographs and be inspired by the design and color revealed inside.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Photos
6 Feb 2007
By Shelby Ellis
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book and the companion book "Pollen" will wow both professionals and layman. Buy it just for the beauty of the superb photos or for the detailed data. Lay these books out on the coffee table and you can be sure they will be picked up over and over again. The photos mezmerize with the sheer magnitude of nature's design.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An oversized format/presentation to display close-up photos and electron microscopy images
8 May 2007
By Midwest Book Review
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The general-interest public will find more accessible Rob Kesseler and Wolfgang Stuppy's SEEDS: TIME CAPSULES OF LIFE. Alexandra Papadakis edits this stunning natural history of seeds, which uses an oversized format/presentation to display close-up photos and electron microscopy images of seed evolution. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew are involved in this reference's publication, which obtains some astonishing images and focuses on the diversity, design and function of seeds the world over.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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