Forensic Plant Science

Dedication Author Biographies Foreword by Tom A. Ranker Foreword by Haskell M. Pitluck Preface Acknowledgments 1. Introduction to Forensic Plant Science 1. Introduction to Plants 2. The Early History of Plant Science 3. Plant Poisonings 4. Illegal Drugs of Plant Origins 5. Twentieth-Century Forensic Plant Science 6. Our Introduction to Forensic Plant Science 2. Suitability of Forensic Plant Science Evidence for Courtroom Presentations 1. The Current State of Forensic Science in the USA 2. Court Decisions Concerning Presentation of Scientific Evidence and Expert Opinion 3. How Does Daubert Relate to Forensic Plant Science 3. Sources for Forensic Plant Science Evidence 1. Plant Anatomy 2. Plant Taxonomy 3. Plant Ecology 4. Genetic Analyses: Use of Deoxyribonucleic Acid 4. Forensic Plant Anatomy 1. Some Plant Basics 2. The Human Digestive System 3. Plant Cells and Time of Death 4. Collection and Sampling Methods for Digestive Tract Materials 5. Processing of Forensic Samples Using Plant Anatomy 6. The Role of Statistics in Evaluating Plant Cells in Digestive Contents 7. Summary 5. Cases Using Evidence from Plant Anatomy 1. Forensic Plant Anatomy Involving Determination of Time of Death 2. Forensic Plant Anatomy and Aging Gravesites 3. Cases Involving Fecal Material 6. Forensic Plant Taxonomy 1. Plant Taxonomy Fieldwork 7. Plant Taxonomy Cases 1. Plants Containing “Recreational” Drugs 2. “Poisoned Pen” Letters 3. Nothing Like a Short Drive at the Golf Course 4. “Moss” Not Grass 5. The Burning Torso 6. Don’t Know Why… 8. Plant Ecology 1. An Overview of Ecology for the Forensic Scientist 2. Procedures and Resources Useful for Forensic Plant Ecology 3. Sources of Ecological Plant Scientists 9. Forensic Plant Ecology Cases 1. Uses of Forensic Plant Ecology Connecting Suspects to Crime Scenes Using Plant Fragments 2. Uses of Forensic Plant Ecology in the Location of Clandestine Graves 3. Other Uses for Forensic Plant Ecology 10. Additional Approaches in Forensic Plant Science 1. Palynology 2. Diatoms 11. Summation and a Look to the Future 1. A Brief Summary of Forensic Plant Science Approaches 2. How to Become a Forensic Botanist 3. Forensic Botany in the Courtroom 4. Forensic Botany in the Twenty-First Century 5. Establishment of Forensic Botany or Forensic Plant Science as a Subdiscipline within the Forensic Sciences and Botanical Science Organizations 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