Increasingly, forensic scientists use plant evidence to reconstruct crimes. The forensic aspects of this subject require an understanding of what is necessary for botanical evidence to be accepted as evidence in our judicial system. Bringing together the latest information into a single, easy-to-use resource, this book introduces the basic science underlying the emerging field of forensic botany. The contributors discuss the recognition of pertinent plant evidence at a crime scene, appropriate collection and preservation of the material, maintenance of a chain of custody, understanding scientific testing methods, validation of the new forensic technique, and more.