Forensic Botany Worksheet

Student Name:
Time Estimate: 45 minutes

Forensic Analysis:
Follow the instructions in the lesson to complete the chart.
Initial Observations:
Plant 1 Plant 2

Picture or
sketch

Observation Color? Flower/Cone/None? Color? Flower/Cone/None?

s

Flat or needle leaves? Hard or softwood? Flat or needle leaves? Hard or softwood?
Scales? Scales?

Use a web search to try to identify your sample and find more information about it. Put your best guess for each
plant's identity in the chart below.
Plant 1 Plant 2

Name of plant

Life Cycle Seasonal/Year-round? Seasonal/Year-round?

Pollen or spore

Other similar species

Lesson Connections:

1. Which characteristics of each plant were most helpful in possibly identifying it and why?
Plant 1:
Plant 2:

2. Do you think your plant has enough unique characteristics to be a good piece of evidence in a crime?
Why or why not?

3. What difficulties did you have when examining your plant evidence?

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