Title 

Role of Forensic Botany in Crime Scene Investigation- A Literature Review.

Authors

K Leena Pramod, Kishor Kumar B, Mohammad Nasir Ahmad

 Abstract

Introduction: Forensic botany, the scientific application of phytology in a criminal or crime scene investigation to provide plant-related trace or gross material that provide substantial support in the investigation. Forensic botany helps to serve justice in many investigations, to serve the justice by the court of law. Even though a small section, forensic botany itself has several specific subgroups, based on its origin. Objective: To define a few subdivisions of forensic botany and explore forensic botany based investigation reported in the public domain. Methodology: This short literature survey was done using two search engines Google Scholar and Pub Med to collect the articles. We used keywords Forensic Botany, Crime scene investigation, Forensic Evidence, to explore the relevant articles. Only the freely available articles in the English language were considered for the present review. Result & Discussion: Present research provides information about plants and their traces that can be used even in forensics. Examples of plants its parts, pollen /spores, bryophytes collected from the crime scene, bodies of suspects or from their belongings can play a crucial role in solving cases. Conclusion: The application of forensic botany was one of the crucial tools produce by the investigators in the court of law to serve justice. No doubt there is a lot of scope in forensic botany in the Indian context for future forensic learners and researchers.

keywords 

Forensic Botany, Palynology, Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic evidence, Forensic Science

DOI