Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination differs from all other books on seed germination. It is an all-encompassing volume that provides a working hypothesis of the ecological and environmental conditions under which various kinds of seed dormancy have developed. It also presents information on the seed germination of more than 3500 species of trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous species, making this a valuable reference for anyone studying germination. This book delivers information on characteristics of each type of seed dormancy, how each type of dormancy is broken in nature, and what environmental conditions are required for germination after dormancy is broken. It explains how studies should be done to distinguish persistent from transient seed banks, and covers which species should be controlled, propagated, and conserved. Seeds gives the reader insight and guidelines for doing ecologically meaningful studies on the biogeography and evolution of seed dormancy and germination in order to better understand plant reproductive strategies, life history traits, adaptations to habitats, and physiological processes. Evolutionary/phylogenetic origins and relationships of various kinds of seed dormancy - A world biogeographical perspective on seed dormancy and germination - Ecophysiology of seeds with each type of dormancy - Critical evaluation of methodology used in soil seed bank studies - Germination ecology of plants with specialized habitat and life cycle types - Genetic and maternal preconditioning effects on seed dormancy and germination - Guidelines for doing ecologically-meaningful germination studies "The book is even now an important reference source and may be recommended to anyone interested in any aspect of seed biology." -- P. Mráz for THIAZIA JOURNAL OF BOTANY (2002) "...this is a monumental overview that deserves to be readily available to all plant physiologists, seed ecologists, the staff of seed testing laboratories and forestry nurseries, seed conservationists―in fact anyone directly working on, or teaching about, the germination of seeds. ...this volume is set to be the first point of reference for seed germination and dormancy studies for many years." -- Hugh W. Pritchard in ANNALS OF BOTANY (2000) "Baskin and Baskin have achieved a remarkable synthesis of the literature on seed dormancy and its impact on germination ecology. ...represents the culmination of decades of scholarly research, and the reader reaps the benefit in one volume. For those involved in plant ecology in any one of the ecosystems described, the coverage is excellent." -- Alistair J. Murdoch, University of Reading, U.K., in CROP SCIENCE (2000) "This book is a grand, highly readable treatise..." -- Ray Stross in HYDROBIOLOGIA (2000) "This book represents a very substantial contribution to scholarship and is likely to become a long-lived classic publication. ...I have no hesitation in recommending this book to all interested in plant ecology. There is no doubt in my mind that this book will prove to be a substantial contribution to the study of seed ecology, and I congratulate the authors on the completion of what can only be described as a singularly comprehensive account." ― Richard Ellis in AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY (2000) "After finishing the book, I feel a little overwhelmed with all the material and the effort it took to bring it all together in such an organized and comprehensive manner. The content alone is valuable, especially for researchers... [Baskins] have brought together in one place an "impressive" collection and summary of information, provided methodologies, and used the insight of their collective experience to critically review methods and conclusions and to suggest directions for future work. ...For anyone interested in any aspect of seed germination, this is the place to start." ― V. Thomas Parker, San Francisco State University, in ECOLOGY (September 1999) "Over the last three decades, the authors' names have become synonymous with detailed studies of seed germination and dormancy. Seeds stands out among the numerous volumes on germination because it is satisfyingly pervaded by the Baskins' understanding that, like any other trait, seed dormancy evolves. ...should be on the bookshelf of any ecologist, evolutionist, or theoretician who needs to know how seeds can be coaxed to get on with the rest of their life." ― Susan J. Mazer in SCIENCE (January 1999) "This book is an all-encompassing volume that provides a working hypothesis of the ecological and environmental conditions under which various kinds of seed dormancy have developed." ― WEED TECHNOLOGY (1999) "It is not often that a text may be viewed as a source book for an entire subject. Yet with ten years in the making and having been written by two of the foremost seed ecologists of recent years that is exactly what this is. The book contains an exhaustive coverage of the subject and will undoubtedly become th