Contents
Seed Banks Around the World
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Importance of Seeds to Humanity
Separating Humans from the Monkeys
From Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers
How Crop Wild Relatives Have Helped Us Breed Resilient Varieties
Human Uses of Seeds Down the Ages
The Father of Seed Science
The Seed Bank that Survived a Siege
Plants and Seeds from The World's Arid Lands
Seed Profile: Grass Pea
Chapter 2: How Plants Evolved on Planet Earth
Tiny Algae Give Rise to the First Plants
Spore-Bearing Plants Give Rise to the First Seeds
Flowering Plants Quickly Gain Ground
The Rise of Annuals Underpins Human Success
How Plants Evoloved from Algae to Angiosperms
Evolution of Land Plants Culminates with the Dramatic Rise of Angiosperms
Plants and Seeds from the World's Rainforests
Australia's Plantbank Helps to Grow "Difficult" Rainforest Seeds
Seed Profile: Wollemi Pine
Chapter 3: How Seed Plants Reproduce
Double Fertilization Brings Flowering Plants Great Success
How Gymnosperms and Angiosperms Reproduce
Pollination is a Must for Successful Fertilization
Plants and their Pollinators
Saving China's Diverse Flora
Plants and Seeds from Antarctica and the Arctic
Seed Profile: Yew
Chapter 4: Dispersal Takes Seeds to New Pastures
The Diverse Ways in which Plants Spread their Seeds
Animals Disperse Seeds Far and Wide
Floating Down Rivers and Across the High Seas
Hitching a Ride with the Wind
Dispersal by Gravity and Ballistic Propulsion
How Seeds are Dispersed Around the World
The Seed Bank Keeping New York City Green
Plants and Seeds from the World's Islands
Seed Profile: Mongongo
Chapter 5: Germination Brings Plants Back to Life
The Tricks Plants Use to Survive
The Test of Time
Preserved for Posterity
Inside a Seed
Inspiring Seed Banking Around the World
Plants and Seeds from the World's Costal Zones
Seed Profile: Wood Anemone
Chapter 6: Using Seeds to Ensure Humanity's Survival
Saving Cultivated and Wild Seeds
Healthy Ecosystems are Key to Biodiversity
Restoring Biodiversity to Chalk Downlands
The Shifting State of the World's Flora
Keeping Hunger at Bay in the Tropics
Foods of the Future
Plants and Seeds from the World's Alpine Habitats
Seed Profile: Arabica Coffee
Glossary
Further Reading
Picture Credits
Index
Acknowledgments