An example of an historical alternative conception:
"Augustine also stated that some animals and plants arise normally through spontaneous generation. He spoke of their invisible seeds being interwoven through the bodies of plants and animals…. When the latter decay, the seeds germinate and new creatures arise. Some invisible seeds may even be present in the soil, allowing new life to spring forth."
Lucas John Mix (2018) Life Concepts from Aristotle to Darwin. On vegetable souls. Cham, Switzerland: plagrave macmillan.
