Forensic botany
Forensic botany is a science that uses plant remains to help solve legal problems. Plant remains can be found in almost every context. Pieces of wood, charcoal, seeds, fruits, twigs and leaves can be seen by the naked eye or magnifying glass. Pollen, spores and other microscopically small biota are often present in abundance, but too small to be recognized by the naked eye. These microscopic pieces of evidence can be collected from almost any substance and environment. The study of plant remains found on a suspect, object, scene of a crime or discovery scene, can yield important forensic evidence.
Botanical evidence can be used in the following situations:
•locating spots where people are buried
•tracing the geographic origin or possible route of any item or vehicle
•relating a suspect to the scene of the crime or scene of discovery
•relating an item left at the scene to a suspect
•supporting or refuting alibis
•supplying promising lines of inquiry or eliminating active lines of inquiry
•determining the season of death and/or burial
•confirming the age and identity of various organic materials
•confirming the identity of a victim of murder
In forensic botanical research, sampling and analyses are highly specialized activities, because of the legal implications. It is highly recommended that immediately after the discovery of a (possible) crime, a specialist in forensic botany is consulted and that the specialist visits the scene of discovery at an early stage of the police investigations to make sure that the right sampling strategies and techniques are applied. A procedure for seeking further specialist advise during the investigation should be established.
