Forensic Plant Science

Jane H Bock, David O. Norris

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9780128014752
• eBook ISBN: 9780128015810
• Topic: Law
• Subtopic: Forensic Science
• Index: Law

Forensic botany is the application of plant science to the resolution of legal questions. A plant's anatomy and its ecological requirements are in some cases species specific and require taxonomic verification; correct interpretation of botanical evidence can give vital information about a crime scene or a suspect or victim. The use of botanical evidence in legal investigations in North America is relatively recent. The first botanical testimony to be heard in a North American court concerned the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's baby boy and the conviction of Bruno Hauptmann in 1935. Today, forensic botany encompasses numerous subdisciplines of plant science, such as plant anatomy, taxonomy, ecology, palynology, and diatomology, and interfaces with other disciplines, e.g., molecular biology, limnology and oceanography.Forensic Plant Science presents chapters on plant science evidence, plant anatomy, plant taxonomic evidence, plant ecology, case studies for all of the above, as well as the educational pathways for the future of forensic plant science. - Provides techniques, collection methods, and analysis of digested plant materials - Shows how to identify plants of use for crime scene and associated evidence in criminal cases - The book's companion website: http://booksite.elsevier.com/9780128014752, will host a microscopic atlas of common food plants

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Author Biographies
• Foreword by Tom A. Ranker
• Foreword by Haskell M. Pitluck
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1. Introduction to Forensic Plant Science
• Chapter 2. Suitability of Forensic Plant Science Evidence for Courtroom Presentations
• Chapter 3. Sources for Forensic Plant Science Evidence
• Chapter 4. Forensic Plant Anatomy
• Chapter 5. Cases Using Evidence from Plant Anatomy
• Chapter 6. Forensic Plant Taxonomy
• Chapter 7. Plant Taxonomy Cases
• Chapter 8. Plant Ecology
• Chapter 9. Forensic Plant Ecology Cases
• Chapter 10. Additional Approaches in Forensic Plant Science
• Chapter 11. Summation and a Look to the Future
• Appendix I. Materials Needed for Plant Anatomy Analyses
• Appendix II. Techniques for Slide Preparation to Examine Gastrointestinal Specimens or Fresh/Frozen/Cooked Food Samples with the Compound Light Microscope
• Appendix III. Making Accurate Measurements with the Microscope
• Appendix IV. Composition of Solutions Used in Preparation of Plant Cells for Microscopic Examination
• Appendix V. Methods for Verification of Feces and Vomitus
• Appendix VI. Maceration of Wood Samples for Microscopic Examination
• Appendix VII. Photographic Atlas Contents
• Subject Index
• Vernacular Names Index
• Scientific Names Index