Book review: The Book of Seeds
The Book of Seeds
by Dr. Paul Smith
The Book of Seeds is a fully illustrated (life size and above) guide to 600 seeds ranging from everyday plants and trees to some of the weirdest plants on Earth. The seeds featured in the book have been selected from the estimated 370,000 seed bearing plant species on Earth (with 2,000+ plants more being added to the list each year). The seeds selected for inclusion in this book were evaluated on a several criteria; physical appearance, global coverage, human use, scientific background, their history and conservation.
The book of Seeds was published in 2018 and is edited by ecologist Dr. Paul Smith. Dr. Smith is the secretary general of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, a not-for-profit organization which links more than 500 botanic gardens in 96 countries, that works to conserve plants and the seeds from which they sprout with the goal of safeguarding Earths plant diversity.
Seeds are time capsules of life, offering hope and promise for the future. They are the most complex organs plants ever produce, and come in an enormously diverse range of shapes, sizes, and colours; from the impressive Star Anise and Ping Pong Tree seeds to the to the the extraordinary Horse Eye bean which has seeds that resemble a horse’s eye. It features tiny seeds such as the microscopic orchid through to the world’s largest seed the Coco do Mer seed which can weigh almost 20 kilos.
Seeds are nature’s consummate survivors and a plants growth to adult from a seed often necessitates overcoming incredible odds. Seeds can survive freezing temperatures and droughts (and in some cases fires). They can pass through our digestive systems without damage and undertake voyages across an ocean on debris, in the air or in the case of coconuts by floating. Seeds can potentially survive for years for the right conditions to germinate. In one incredible example, a date palm seed recovered from the palace of Herod the Great was able to be germinated two thousand years later.
Seeds are usually overshadowed by the actual plant often due to the size of the adult plant or tree or its characteristics, such as flowers. However, in The Book of Seeds, seeds are the centre of attention and each seed is given equal attention displayed with beautiful photographs, life size and in larger detail (together with a small engraving of the parent plant). Every seed profile includes a population distribution map, a table of essential information, and a commentary of notable characteristics, related species, and a diagnosis of the specimen's importance in terms of rarity, dispersal method, and its scientific significance.
As population growth and climate change challenge the survival of seeds and plants, their fate is increasingly in human hands and the fate of more than 100,000 plants hang in the balance. Smith’s involvement in seed banks means that he is very aware of the risks we face and he includes plenty of information on seed conservation, storage, and plant diversity in the book.
This is an interesting book, though arguably more of a reference book than one to be read straight through. As it is organized taxonomically, rather than by common names, I did find it a little hard to dip in to access particular plant seeds. On the selection of seeds, in my view it contained surprisingly few seeds originating in Asia and from here in New Zealand (only 2 seeds I recall) and it tends to skew towards European and US based plant species.
This is a beautiful and important book that reminds us all of the vital role of seeds to sustain plant life on our planet. It is a book which will inspire both the scientists among us and a broad audience of nature lovers and gardeners. Its weighty too, coming in at 1.83kg.
Black Teal Bay Books rating: 7/10
