Review article Forensic mycology: the use of fungi in criminal investigations David L. Hawksworth a,b, *, Patricia E.J. Wiltshire c a Departamento de Biologı´a Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramo ´n y Cajal, Madrid 28040, Spain b Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK c Department of Geography and Environment, University of Aberdeen, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, UK Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 2. Background ....................................................................................................... 2 3. Trace evidence ..................................................................................................... 2 4. Time since death (post-mortem interval) ................................................................................ 4 5. Time of deposition .................................................................................................. 6 6. Cause of death, hallucinations, or poisoning ............................................................................. 7 7. Location of corpses ................................................................................................. 8 8. Biological warfare .................................................................................................. 8 9. When to consider forensic mycology ................................................................................... 9 10. Developing forensic mycology ........................................................................................ 9 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 9 References ........................................................................................................ 9 1. Introduction Mycology is the study of fungi of all kinds, including blights, moulds, mildews, mushrooms, plant and human pathogens, lichens, rusts and smuts, slime-moulds, truffles, and yeasts. The use of mycological evidence in criminal investigations, and its testing in the courts, i.e. forensic mycology, has until recent years largely been restricted to cases involving poisonous and psycho- tropic species. However, during the last 3 years we have found various situations in which fungal data can provide critical evidence. The objectives of this review are both critically to consider the published information, and to draw attention to the range of situations where we now know mycological data can be informative – including our personal experience in criminal cases. Applications include roles in: providing trace evidence; estimating Forensic Science International 206 (2011) 1–11 ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 27 April 2010 Received in revised form 7 June 2010 Accepted 10 June 2010 Available online 14 July 2010 Keywords: Clandestine burial Deposition time Hallucinogens Lichens Palynology Palynomorph Poisons Post-mortem interval Trace evidence ABSTRACT This is the first overview to be published of the whole field of forensic mycology. It is based on all available information located in the literature, together with 13 examples from recent casework. Background information on fungi is given, and this is followed by an outline of the value, and potentially wide application, of mycology in criminal investigation. Applications include roles in: providing trace evidence; estimating time since death (post-mortem interval); ascertaining time of deposition; investigating cause of death, hallucinations, or poisonings; locating buried corpses; and biological warfare. Previous work has been critically evaluated, with particular attention to its evidential value, and suitability for presentation in a court of law. The situations where mycology might assist an investigation are summarised, and issues relating to the further development of the subject are presented. A comprehensive bibliography with 120 citations is provided. ß 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author at: Milford House, The Mead, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2LZ, UK. Tel.: +44 1372 272087. E-mail address: d.hawksworth@nhm.ac.uk (D.L. Hawksworth). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Forensic Science International journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciint 0379-0738/$ – see front matter ß 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.06.012