Contribution of plant anatomy to forensic investigation: Tree bark morphology

Plant science has been more and utilized in forensic investigation, although its full potential is still to be reached. macroremains are a powerful tool link body or other evidence back primary crime scene as they can provide detailed information about previous ecological geographic location. However, plant often poorly preserved difficult identify, diagnostic elements seldom present within the assemblage occurring on scene. fragments most likely found those exposed environment resistant degradation. The bark of woody plants meets these requirements but possibility identification at species level from small not known. Starting real homicide case, where splinters were victim, we aimed assess like occur Two keys prepared for 16 common lowland tree Northern Italy; one key used all available anatomical traits, second only outer bark. was able discriminate some couples unambiguously, could identify Robinia pseudoacacia, confirmed direct comparison with reference sample. Bark deserve included into analyzed during an samples easily lack building collection should encouraged.