Seeds never cease to amaze me. Mixed with just a water and soil, and sometimes warmth, the driest, most shrivelled looking thing can sprout into new life. It’s a small miracle that is explored in The Book of Seeds, which outlines the complexity of this vital part of the natural world.
Written by Dr Paul Smith, the former head of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, it covers just some of the 370,000 seed-bearing plant species that are known – a figure that is growing as more species are discovered.
The range is vast from some the size of a human head to the tiniest that can only just be seen without the aid of magnification.
The Book of Seeds opens with an overview of what a seed is and their importance: “It is no exaggeration to say that the seed is the basis of human civilisation,” we are told.
There’s a look at the different methods of dispersal: Silky Oak seeds have wings so they can catch the wind, coconuts will float on water while the grape seed covers itself in a tempting fruit and then goes through the digestive system of a bird or animal intact.
Size and shape are also important: generally, large seeds are designed to germinate quickly, making them difficult to store. Often, these are found in areas of high rainfall where conditions for germination are more favourable. In contrast, plants in more arid areas tend to stay dormant until conditions are right for growing and they are often smaller.
Smith also makes the argument for seed conservation as a way of ensuring plant species are not lost.
“To the majority of people, plants are not charismatic, yet countless nondescript plants have important roles in maintaining life on this planet,” he says. “They sit at the base of the trophic pyramid, providing food all the way up the chain to us, right at the top.”
The second part of The Book of Seeds looks at individual seeds, chosen as much for their looks as their interest: “The vast majority of seeds are small and brown, so a selection based on taxonomy alone would not be visually interesting.”
Each entry has colour photographs – large and actual size – a description, geographical spread and information on habitat, dispersal and conservation status.
It’s a varied journey encompassing the familiar daffodil and nigella seed to the bright red seed of Zululand Cycad and the Madagascan Uncarina seeds, which have hooks that fasten onto anything that passes.
At 656 pages, The Book of Seeds is not a lightweight in either size or style. This is a thorough and detailed book that gives a better understanding of the miracle of seeds.
• The Book of Seeds by Dr Paul Smith is published by Ivy Press, priced £30 RRP. Buy now. (If you buy through this Amazon link, I get a small fee. The price you pay is not affected.)
• Book supplied by Ivy Press.