Seeds, Sex and Civilization: How the Hidden Life of Plants has Shaped Our World

Peter Thompson, who was head of the physiology department at Kew Gardens and laid the foundations for the Millennium Seed Bank, unfolds the fascinating story of how, after centuries-long investigations, we have finally discovered what seeds do and how they work.

The book also vividly brings to life the people who have accumulated our knowledge – eccentrics, explorers, amateurs and highly dedicated professionals. Some are well known, such as Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel; others, such as the Russian geneticist Nikolai Vavilov, less so. There are violent confrontations, miraculous successes and heart-rending failures. But the seeds also have a story and appear to have personalities, ambitions and ‘stratagems’ of their own.

The book concludes with a chapter by Stephen Harris on current debates about genetically modified crops, seed conservation and plant ownership. Seeds have been hugely important throughout history. Today, how we treat them is of global significance.