| If you are a big fan of the CSI or Forensic Files TV | | | | of a homicide victim, but no trees consistent with the |
| shows, you may have seen the TV scientists analyze | | | | bark anywhere outside the house, the perpetrator |
| soil samples that were found at the scene of a crime. | | | | probably brought the tree bark with him on his |
| Within these soil samples, there is minute evidence | | | | clothing or shoes. In depth study of a particular tree |
| that can have great forensic significance. | | | | species from which the bark came can help |
| Plant materials such as seeds, pollen, or leaves can be | | | | investigators narrow the possibilities of a search area. |
| found not only in soil samples, but also on dead | | | | Pollen, a product of flower plants, can be very useful |
| bodies, clothing, flooring, automotive carpets, tools, | | | | to the forensic laboratory scientist. Pollen grains are |
| and many other places. These plant materials can be | | | | minute and are rarely visible. However, they are |
| the subject of forensic study. Just like any type of | | | | highly unique. Pollen may be found on the jeans, shirt, |
| trace evidence, plant materials can link a suspect to a | | | | or hair of a victim or suspect. Pollen grains may also |
| crime or a crime scene. Forensic scientists many | | | | be found in envelopes containing a perpetrator's |
| times look for leaves, stems, flower petals, bark, pine | | | | ransom note. Microscopic identification of pollen grains |
| tree needles, pollen grains, and seeds because | | | | may indicate at the victim or the offender had been |
| different plants are unique to different areas. The | | | | in a place where the particulate plant matter was in |
| materials from those plants can help the forensic | | | | bloom. There exist several pollen reference |
| investigator determine the origin of a soil sample. For | | | | databases that can help the forensic scientist with |
| instance, if investigators find tree bark on the clothing | | | | identifying a particular species. |