ABSTRACT
Forensic palynology is a branch of applied palynology, which deals with use of pollen evidence in detecting crimes and capturing perpetrators. The literature on forensic palynology abounds with numerous cases in which a single pollen grain evidence has solved criminal mysteries. The most important palynomorphs which are useful in forensic investigation include pollen grains, pteridophytetic spores, fungal spores and other fungal remains. Forensic palynology has been very useful for detection of criminals in various kinds of crimes such as burglary, abduction, rape, assault, forgery, drug trafficking, murder, genocide, homicide, illegal fishing and terrorism. Forensic palynology has been of great assistance in solving a recent dispute on the authenticity of the ‘Shroud of Turin’. The forensic palynology samples are useful tools that can point investigators in the ‘right’ direction, or narrow the number of suspects, or even eliminate a person as a crime suspect.
