Forensic Botany

EDITORS DAVID W. HALL David W. Hall Consultant, Inc., USA JASON H. BYRD William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine, University of Florida, USA

“This book entitled Forensic Botany: A Practical Guide is an excellent guide and teaching tool for biological evidence training, a resource for scientists, law enforcement and attorneys alike, and review material before trial. Forensic guidelines for plant material are limited and training is specialized; therefore, this truly is an excellent, readable scientific guide for the forensic community.”  (Journal of Forensic Sciences, 1 July 2013)

• List of contributors ixSeries Foreword xiPrologue: the begining xiii1 Introduction to forensic botany 1David W. Hall, Ph.D.Botanical evidence in legal investigations 1Legal plant definition 2Botanical evidence in legal investigations 3Alibis 5Timing 5Gravesite growth 9Stomach contents 11Summary 112 Plants as evidence 12David W. Hall, Ph.D.Types of plants 12Nonplant groups traditionally studied by botanists 22Plant habitats and associations 25Plant characteristics/plant morphology 26Basic plant characteristics for the forensic investigator 28Habit 28Plant dispersal 413 Evidence collection and analysis 45David W. Hall, Ph.D. and Jason H. Byrd, Ph.D.Initial crime scene notation 55Where to search for evidence 56Storage 61Documentation of botanical evidence 61How to have botanical evidence analysed 62Where to find a botanist 63Types of cases 63Evidence analysis 63Laboratory report 65Transportation of botanical evidence 66Evidence retention and disposition 66Step-wise method for the collection of botanical evidence 68Appendix 3.1 70Crime scene data 70Habitat documentation 70Scene location 70Collection information needed for each botanical sample 70Appendix 3.2 72Botany field data sheet 72Appendix 3.3 76Botany laboratory examination data format 76Appendix 3.4 78Evidence log 784 Expert evidence 79Bernard A. Raum JD, MFSThe common law 79The United States experience 80The decision in Frye v. United States 81The codified federal rules of evidence 82The decision in Daubert v. Merrill Dow 25 85The scientific method 86The “pure opinion” rule 87The United Kingdom experience 88The criminal procedure rules 2010, s. 33 90The law commission consultation paper no. 190 925 Use and guidelines for plant DNA analyses in forensics 93Matthew A. Gitzendanner, Ph.D.Introduction 93Types of samples and collection for DNA analyses 94Uses of genetic data 95Genotyping methods 98Finding a laboratory for analysis 102Case studies 102Conclusions 104References 104Contents vii6 A primer on forensic microscopy 107Christopher R. Hardy, Ph.D.Microscopes and microscopic botanical structures relevant to forensic botany 107The importance of reference collections in microscopic analysis 115Preparation and documentation of specimen evidence for microscopic examination 116References 1187 Plant anatomy 119David W. Hall, Ph.D. and William Stern, Ph.D.The lindbergh case 121Further reading 1268 Palynology, pollen, and spores, partners in crime: what, why, and how 127Anna Sandiford, Ph.D.Terminology 127What are pollen and spores? 127Where are they found and how do they travel? 129What does pollen look like? 130The use of pollen for non-forensic work 132The use of pollen in the forensic setting 132When should pollen samples be collected? 134How to collect and store pollen samples 134How many samples to collect? 138Who can collect pollen samples and where can an analyst be found? 139Costs and turnaround times 140Case examples 140Summary 142References 1439 Algae in forensic investigations 145Christopher R. Hardy, Ph.D. and John R. Wallace, Ph.D.Finding an algal botanist and identifying algae 145Algal diversity 146Application of algal evidence in forensic investigations 154Collection and processing of algal evidence in forensic investigations 165Acknowledgements 172References 17210 Case Studies in forensic botany 174David W. Hall, Ph.D.Placing people or objects at scenes 174Determining time of death 181Index 189