Alphonse de Candolle’s Origin of Cultivated Plants is a seminal work that delves into the historical and geographical roots of plant domestication. Published in 1885, this comprehensive study examines the origins, spread, and cultural significance of various cultivated plants, offering insights into the evolution of agriculture and human civilization.​

Candolle begins by highlighting the importance of understanding the origins of cultivated plants, emphasizing that such knowledge is crucial for agriculturists, botanists, and historians alike. He critiques historical inaccuracies and stresses the complexities involved in determining the native habitats of different species. To unravel these complexities, Candolle employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining botanical observations, archaeological evidence, and historical records. He underscores the necessity of integrating these methods to arrive at well-founded conclusions about the history and diffusion of various cultivated species. ​

The book meticulously traces the domestication of key crops across different regions. For instance, Candolle discusses the early cultivation of rice and leguminous plants in Southern Asia, barley and wheat in Mesopotamia and Egypt, and maize, potatoes, and sweet potatoes in the Americas. He examines archaeological findings, such as ancient drawings of figs in Egyptian pyramids and evidence of plant cultivation in prehistoric Swiss lake-dwellings, to illustrate the antiquity and geographical spread of agriculture. Candolle also addresses the challenges in identifying the exact origins of certain plants due to factors like linguistic ambiguities and historical misclassifications. ​

Furthermore, Candolle explores the cultural exchanges that facilitated the spread of cultivated plants. He notes that regions like China, Southwest Asia, and intertropical America served as primary centers of domestication, each contributing uniquely to global agriculture. The book delves into the historical transmission of crops such as the sweet potato, which was introduced to Europe from the New World, and the sugarcane, which spread from India to China and eventually to the Mediterranean and the Americas. Candolle’s analysis reveals how human migrations, trade, and conquests have historically influenced agricultural practices and crop distributions. ​

Origin of Cultivated Plants stands as a foundational text in the fields of botany and agricultural history. Candolle’s methodical approach and interdisciplinary analysis provide a comprehensive understanding of how cultivated plants have shaped and been shaped by human societies. His work not only offers valuable historical insights but also underscores the enduring relationship between humans and the plant species they have domesticated over millennia.​