Forensic Botany: A Practical Guide is an accessible introduction to
the way in which botanical evidence is identified, collected and
analysed in criminal cases. Increasingly this form of evidence is
becoming more important in forensic investigation and yet there are few
trained botanists able to assist in such cases. This book is intended to
show how useful simple collection methods and standard plant analysis
can be in the course of such investigations and is written in a clear
and accessible manner to enhance understanding of the subject for the
non-specialist.
Clearly structured throughout, this book combines well known collection
techniques in a field oriented format that can be used for casework.
Collection of evidence differs from formal plant collection in that most
professional plant collectors are gathering entire plants or significant
portions of a plant for permanent storage and reference. Evidence
frequently consists of fragments, sometimes exceedingly tiny. Exemplars
(examples of reference plants) are collections of plants made in the
manner a botanist would collect them. These collections are necessary to
link or exclude evidence to or from a scene. Various methods that allow
easy collection, transportation, and preservation of evidence are
detailed throughout the book.
This book is written for those who have no formal background working
with plants. It can be used as a practical guide for students taking
forensic science courses, law enforcement training, legal courses, and
as a template for plant collection at any scene where plants occur and
where rules or laws are involved. Veterinarians, various environmental
agencies, anthropologists, and archeologists are examples of disciplines
that are more recently in need of plant evidence. Veterinarians are
becoming more active in pursuing cases of animals that have been abused
or are victims of illegal killing. Anthropologists and archeologists are
often called to help with body recovery in outdoor environments.
Environmental agencies are increasingly forced to adopt rules for
resource protection, are in need of a guide for procedures for plant
evidence collection and application.
The format of the book is designed to present the reader with all the
information needed to conduct a botanical analysis of a crime scene; to
highlight the forensic significance of the botanical evidence that may
be present; how to collect that evidence in the correct manner and
preserve and store that evidence appropriately- also shows how to
conduct a laboratory analysis of the plants.
