It will be published in September 2024 by the award-winning Papadakis Publisher the extraordinary exploration of the hidden world of seeds by Rob Kesseler, a distinguished visual artist and Emeritus Professor of Arts, Design & Science at Central Saint Martins, London and Dr. Wolfgang Stuppy, a world-renowned seed morphologist with a career deeply rooted in plant conservation and now the curator of the Botanic Garden at Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany. In this meticulously crafted work, where art meets science, Kesseler and Stuppy reveal the intricate and often breathtaking microcosm of seeds, uncovering one of nature’s most profound secrets.

Seeds, the ingenious creation of the plant kingdom, have their origins dating back 360 million years. This book traces their evolution, illustrating how these tiny structures have enabled plants to colonize nearly every corner of the globe. Acting as time capsules of life, seeds possess the remarkable ability to travel vast distances, sometimes lying dormant for years, or even centuries, before germinating and giving rise to new plant life.

Kesseler and Stuppy’s collaboration offers an enlightening experience not only for those fascinated by the natural world but also for anyone seeking inspiration from the boundless beauty of our planet. The book delves into the evolution of seeds, from the emergence of the first seeds, marking a pivotal moment in the history of terrestrial plants, to their sophisticated adaptations that allow them to thrive in environments ranging from the frigid Antarctic to the scorching deserts.

From the massive Seychelles nut, weighing in at twenty kilos, to the delicate, dust-like seeds of orchids, and the captivating blue seeds of the Malagasy Traveller’s Tree, the text presents a wide array of seed forms. Readers are introduced to the aerodynamic wafer-thin gliders of the Monkey Pod and the honeycomb-like seeds of the parasitic Desert Hyacinth, each representing nature’s ingenuity and adaptability.

This captivating book is richly illustrated with close-up photographs and scanning electron micrographs, offering readers an astonishing glimpse into the beauty and sophistication of seeds, where even the smallest specimens reveal their complex, exquisite designs.