Under the Scope: Introducing Our Microscopist, Kirsten Tripplett, and Why You Need Her Services.
Hello! My name is Kirsten, and I’m a plant-aholic and botanist. I am excited to be able to bring my methods and expertise to LeafWorks!
I live and breathe plants—I am immersed especially in the world of plant identification. I’m drawn to the old-school, qualitative approach: studying the myriad of visual forms, structures, and distinguishing characteristics intrinsic to plants. My specialty is microscopy - high-magnification study and analysis of plant tissues and cellular elements; I look for diagnostic evidence they provide for identifying plant materials in powders and chopped materials - those used in commerce specifically. Also, I have a peculiar and practical interest in identifying adulterants and contaminants. I’ve been researching and studying plants in the field, the herbarium and the laboratory for decades, and bring a unique, expert set of skills and experience to my work as a microscopist. Ultimately, reliable identification connects classification, evidence, and real-world supply sourcing and manufacturing outcomes—so a product contains what it claims to contain.
I am collaborating with LeafWorks to provide these identification services. We can provide a critical additional layer of insight for botanical quality control, including:
• Botanical species and plant-part identification
• Detection of adulterants, contaminants, filth and foreign matter
• Evaluation of raw, powdered, chopped and whole botanical materials
• High-magnification microscopic analysis
• Low-magnification macroscopic assessment
• Photo documentation of diagnostic botanical structures
Microscopy and macroscopy can usually be used as stand-alone identification methods or combined with LeafWorks’ genomic testing services as part of a stronger, orthogonal testing program. Together, these methods help confirm not only which species are present, but whether the correct plant part was used and whether foreign materials or contaminants are present.
Plant identification is rewarding and so much like forensic botany—and more and more often, I suspect it’s among the oldest of human occupations. Long before humans learned to create and preserve fire for cooking, and long before digestive tracts evolved to make the most of cooked meats and extract more nutrients, our ancestors collected plants. Primarily for food, but later they experimented and learned about their properties as medicines, tools, fuel, construction materials, and other practical applications, like waterproofing substances for basketry or for use as ritual items.
Fast-forward to modern society. Our understanding of the plant “bioverse” suggests there are roughly 350,000 plant species worldwide, distributed across a wide range of biologically diverse environments—rainforests, deserts, mountains, river valleys, and open plains. New species are still being discovered, especially in remote rainforest regions or mountain ranges. Crops used for food and medicines are grown throughout the world, often far from where they originated, and we need to identify them in practical, rapid and economic ways.
Today, we have qualitative classification systems (taxonomy) and deep insights into plant form and structure (morphology), that allow us to determine plant identities within a greater whole, and who is related to whom (or we try, based on visual evidence). We also use anatomy, phytochemistry, and genetic relationships to place a particular plant into sensible identification categories. These categories matter because they help ensure that we’re talking about the same, very specific plant—especially when the plant is being traded in commerce.
For example, imagine a dietary supplement manufacturer who wants to create a new product based on a specific plant, or on multiple plant ingredients. How can they be sure their supplier—whether a vendor, producer, or farmer—will provide the exact plant they need? How do they confirm they’re receiving a consistent supply of the right herb over time, particularly if the source shifts among multiple producers? Testing, verification, and confirmation of plant identity are essential not only for safety and efficacy, but also for reliability of consistent dosage standards: Incorrectly identifying a plant ingredient can create serious downstream problems. It also opens a chain of additional questions, such as: Are certain plants safely interchangeable in formulation and production? Are there plants that can be substituted as “look-alikes,” acting as deliberately misleading or unintentional adulterants? If so, is the adulterant a danger to consumers? Are contaminants present in the starting material—incidental weed parts, insect fragments, soil particles, or other material carried along during cultivation, collection and processing? Not incidentally, federal regulations (e.g., requirements for Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMPs) require dietary supplement manufacturers to identify and confirm that their target plant ingredient is the correct plant species in each shipment received; is free of adulterants, contaminants and filth; it must be consistent with internal specifications; and manufacturers are required to maintain documentation supporting and recording test results. Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) guidelines are, on the other hand, voluntary and stress clean, microbe-free and uncontaminated crops, but such cultivation and processing methods lend themselves to high-quality crop products.
At LeafWorks, we have the expertise, experience and methods to help you achieve your goals for high-quality plant and fungal target materials, accurate identifications, regulatory compliance, and confidence in your product. Contact us atinfo@leafworks.com to inquire about getting setup for your microscopy needs!
