Running header: PLANTS IN CRIME

Plants
Name
Instructor

PLANTS IN CRIME

ABTSRACT
PLANTS IN CRIME

Plants play a very important role in fighting against crime through investigations and coming up
concrete evidence. In this topic we are going to learn about how plants can be used in forensic
science and the use of plants for criminal purposes. Forensic botanists can use their skills and
knowledge of plant structure, anatomy and environment to assemble sufficient evidence to
convict a suspect by placing him or her at a crime scene. The plant botanists look at the plant
material evidence on their clothes and pockets. Not all plants could be of help, this is because
different plants have different distinctive features but there are some with the same features.
Botanists knowledge of growing seasons can help to establish a victims time and place of death.
The addition of forensic botanist to a crime investigation team can result in evidence that can be
used to identify a criminal.

PLANTS IN CRIME

Crimes such as sexual assaults, botanists took samples of grass clippings and soil from a
suspects clothing or shoes and they compared them to the grass clippings to determine whether
the suspect was in the crime scene Horrocks, M et al (2001).The clothing samples showed very
strong evidence that the suspect was there on the crime scene since the pollen grains from the
grass samples were all over the suspects clothes. This was clear evidence that the crime
happened and the suspect was guilty.
Botanical evidence can also be used in identifying clandestine graves. When soil is
disturbed certain plants invade the surface and other species also start to grow. The composition
and the distribution of the new appearances is never exactly the same with the original
surroundings of the community. The presence of a buried body may change the soil and either
promote or inhibit growth. Either way the disturbed area will be a different stage than its
surrounding and therefore help forensic investigators in performing their task.
DNA has also been used intensively with plants to solve crimes in recent studies it has
been discovered that marijuana DNA can be linked to drug supplies and pollen DNA to aid in
forensic investigations. The use of DNA based method for identification has allowed
investigators to form links between cases involving the cross border trafficking of cannabis
David et al 2015.
Another example was a documentary of the death of Socrates. One Plato Phaedo described the
death of his mentor as he attended the legally imposed the suicide of Socrates. It was alleged that
Socrates corrupted the youths by making them to disrespect their religion. And because Socrates
was was of a high social standing, he was allowed to choose his own manner of death. He
selected a deadly manner of drinking tea made from poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.
Apiaceae). The symptoms of Socrates death was that of drinking a fatal brew said Plato at el
(2009).this narration agrees with the descriptions of poison hemlocks effect on human beings.
Forensic botany became an important tool in the courts of United states in the trial of Bruno
Hauptman who was accused of killing Chrles and anne M. lindberghs son in 1932.

There are limitations related to botany. Since pollen is so common it can be difficult to associate
particular pollen with specific area. Investigators also must be sure that buried evidence is not
contaminated by fresh pollen at the scene. If evidence is not protected then it will be impossible
to determine whether the pollen was there at the time of death or not. Extra, false or distorted
information can lead to over or under estimating of facts. If a body is covered by some of the

PLANTS IN CRIME

original vegetation at the time of burial, it could look as if the plant had been there for a longer
period than the body below.
In summary the use of plants in crime and for criminal purposes has played a very important and
crucial role in solving criminal cases. Criminal investigators are urged to look into botany in
forensic evidence as a way of finding solutions to crime.

Reference
Horrocks,M. and Walsh,K., Pollen on grass clippings: Putting the suspect at the scene of crime,
Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol.46,no.4,2001,pp.947-949.
Copyright SFU Museum of Archeology and Enthology, 2010.
http://www.sfu/museum/forensics/eng/pg_media-media_pg/botanique-botany
KJCraft,JD Owens, MV Ashley Forensic science international,2007 - Elsevier