Abstract :
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.
