Darwin and seeds

In 2009, the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth on 12 February 1809 is being celebrated. For seed scientists, celebrations of the contributions of the great biologist should also mark his involvement with seeds. Darwin was interested in seeds, particularly in their role in dispersal and distribution of plant species over long distances. His studies of seeds, laid down in several books and articles, contributed to the development of his ideas on evolution and the distribution of living organisms on the planet. In this review, the place of seeds in Darwin’s work is surveyed and it is shown how he referred to them to support and illustrate some of his most important ideas.