Extraordinary Close-up Photographs Reveal and Amazing New Perspective on Seeds, One of the Smallest Units of Life

Seeds Time Capsules of Life Rob Kesseler & Wolfgang Stuppy Preface by Prince Charles HRH The Prince of Wales ISBN: 978-1-60887-111-7 Hardcover | $35.00 | 264 Pages October 2012 Extraordinary Close-up Photographs Reveal and Amazing New Perspective on Seeds, One of the Smallest Units of Life SAN RAFAEL, CA, October 2012 - The power of seeds as small pods that are self-contained life forces is as fascinating as their artfully functional structure. The sublime images in Seeds afford an unprecedented view into a most astonishing microcosm, where even the tiniest examples are exquisitely beautiful and sophisticated. Seeds are the most complex organs plants produce. 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 44 pounds 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 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. Scientists and critics around the world have called visual artist Rob Kesseler's work "mystifying," "astounding," and "awe-inspiring." Seeds' majestic bright, popping colors, mesmerizing geometry, and accessible text make it a coffee-table treasure. This brand-new edition features a preface by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who is an avid conservationist. Wolfgang Stuppy is the seed morphologist at the Millennium Seed Bank Project, an international initiative dedicated to seed conservation managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He holds a doctorate in comparative seed morphology and anatomy and lives in London. Visual artist Rob Kesseler is a professor, lecturer, and a NESTA Fellow at Kew. His artwork was featured in solo exhibitions at the V&A Museum (London) and the City Museum and Art Gallery (Stoke), among others. He lives in London. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, serves as president of the Prince's Charities, the largest multicause charitable enterprise in the UK. This group of twenty not-for-profit organizations actively works to improve education, public health, and the environment.