Forensic Examination of Leaf and Leaf Fragments in Fresh and Dried Conditions

The various microscopical characters of taxonomic value have been studied in fresh and dried leaves of Nerium odorum Soland, Thevetia nereifolia A. Juss, Mangifera indica Linn, Ficus bengalensis Linn, Datura alba Nees and Tamarindus indica, Linn, with a view to find out the preservation of diagnostic characters in the dried leaves. The dried leaf examination is required in some crime cases as part of physical evidence. The results show that based on various indices and anatomical features, it is possible to compare and identify the dried leaves with the parent plants.