Forensic Botany Analysis – How it helps Forensic Investigations?

During crime scene investigations particularly those of murder and rape investigations it’s common for soil samples to be taken from the crime scene for further testing. This form of testing is referred to as Botany Testing and Botany Expert Witnesses have the specialist task of identifying any hidden forensic clues within small samples of evidence to identify a suspect or aid a criminal investigation.

Botany Forensic Analysis is the specialist analysis of plant materials such as seeds, pollen, leaves, nuts and bark which can be found not only within soil samples, but also on dead bodies, clothing, flooring, automotive carpets, tools, and many other places.

All of the plant types above are recognised by experts as Trace Evidence. Forensic scientists use plant materials including leaves, stems, flower petals, bark, pine tree needles, pollen grains, and seeds to link suspects to a crime or crime scene because different plants are unique to different areas.

A common example of this is during forensic investigations are when investigators find tree bark on the clothing of a homicide victim, but no trees consistent of this type of bark anywhere outside the crime scene. Forensic Scientists then identify the perpetrator probably brought the tree bark with him on his clothing or shoes. Proceeding this an indepth study of a particular tree species begins which identifies where the bark originated and can help investigators narrow the possibilities of a search area for a suspect.

Palynology is the forensic study of Pollen, a product of flower plants. Through the use of Palynology, forensic laboratory scientist can analyse minute pollen grains through trace analysis to identify the whereabouts of suspects in criminal investigations.

Forensic Resources regularly analyses pollen on the jeans, shirts, and hairs of a victim or suspect to indicate whether a victim or offender had been in a place where the particulate plant matter was in bloom. There exist several pollen reference databases that can help the forensic scientist with identifying a particular species thus regionalising their location during criminal investigation.

Forensic Resources Ltd is one of the UK’s leading Forensic Analysis and expert witness services offering all forms of forensic analysis including DNA Analysis, Pollen Analysis, Botany Analysis, Forensic Plant Analysis, Trace Analysis and Expert Witness Services.