Thanks to all who's provided info. There's a lot of incomplete and contradictory information in the various databases, sigh, moan, groan;) but at least they're sources that can be parsed the next time I impale myself on one of them.

Regarding Linda Derry's info on African-American graveyard associations: I've found it and vice versa on an 18th century plantation house site but not at any of the graveyards on John's Island, SC; on a presumptive late 18th to middle 19th century house site in Accomack County, VA, on a 19th century plantation house forming a hedge in Stafford County, VA; and on what by proximity might be the gardener's house for a major plantation in Pittsylvania County, VA but which doesn't have any in the garden. Of course, with that plant, one owner might find it attractive while the next might decide against becoming a pincushion and remove it. I have not seen it in VA in association with graveyards of any ethnic origin.

Prince's Nursery List (NY) has it in 1823 but I don't know if there's a complete run from 1770 when he started to 1823, but the website does indicate that it is not a popular plant until after 1862, FWIW.

Lyle Browning, RPA

On Jul 27, 2012, at 12:20 PM, Linda Derry wrote:

> Lyle,
> 
> Someone has done a publication on the introduction of historic plants in
> Alabama based on the appearance in plant catalogues and other advertisement.
> Author was with the state extension serve and passed away several years ago,
> so I doubt if has ben digitized, and it may only exist today in "grey
> literature."  The author's name was George Stritikus.  
> 
> However, I suspect the information you seek is very region specific with
> lots of local variation.  The USDA page is a good place to start, as has
> been suggested, but I have found local historical data often contradicts
> this more generalized database.  
> 
> I have done some research myself on Poncirus trifoliate  (or more commonly
> known as Trifoliate Orange) because of a correlation I am finding in my
> local area between it and old African-American burial grounds.  I am
> wondering if there is a way to prove that it had symbolic value for the
> people associated with these graveyards.  Perhaps they saw a link between
> its form and the crown of thorns associated with Jesus. 
> 
> Also, although it drops its leaves in the winter, it is still evergreen
> (always good symbolism in cemeteries) because of the very green angular
> stems on the plant. So, if anyone stumbles across documentation that would
> inform on the symbolic nature of this plant, please do post it on this
> listserve, or email me directly. 
> 
> Lyle, I did find an article in a May 1892 edition of The Manufacturer and
> Builder (vol. 25, p. 115) that says the following  about "the Hardy
> Trifoliate Orange:"
> 
> "it has been growing, blooming and fruiting profusely for several years in
> Northern Maryland, in the government grounds at Washington, D.C. in the
> Zoological Garden at Philadelphia, and in New York City and vicinity..... As
> long ago as the spring of 1880 Prof. W. F. Massey, now of the N.C. College
> of Agriculture, planted a number of these trees in the hills of Northern
> Maryland, in a locality nearly 800 feet above tide water, but in a valley
> where frost lay heavily....As an ornamental hedge for the yard, it is simply
> perfect, every branch and twig being bright glossy green the year round, it
> is ornamental in winter as well as summer.  No yard large enough to hold a
> shrub can afford to omit it, while on more extensive grounds it should be
> planted freely." 
> 
> I'm sending this quote because , although it might not give an exact  date
> of the initial introduction, I think it gives us a very good idea when it
> was popularized and started it spread across the U.S. and some idea of when
> this plant started to be popularized in America (late 19th Century), and it
> also gives you some leads on the organizations that first obtained this
> plant.
> 
> Also, if you are interested the many uses of this particular shrub in 19th
> century America, it would be well worth your time to location this The
> Manufacture volume and read it.  (available on the Making of America web
> site). 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Linda Derry
> Site Director
> Old Cahawba
> 719 Tremont St.
> Selma, AL 36701
> ph. 334/875-2529
> fax. 334/877-4253
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Allen
> Dart
> Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 9:17 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Digitized Plants
> 
> One can check on a particular plant in the USDA's national Plants database:
> 
> http://plants.usda.gov
> 
> 
> al
> 
> Allen Dart, RPA, Executive Director
> Old Pueblo Archaeology Center
> PO Box 40577
> Tucson AZ  85717-0577   USA
>    520-798-1201 office, 520-798-1966 fax
>    Email: [log in to unmask]
>    URL: www.oldpueblo.org
> 
> Disclosure: Old Pueblo Archaeology Center's Executive Director Allen Dart is
> a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service cultural resources specialist
> who volunteers his time to Old Pueblo. Views expressed in Old Pueblo
> Archaeology Center communications do not necessarily represent views of the
> U.S. Department of Agriculture or of the United States.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> 
> On Fri, July 27, 2012 3:57 am, paul courtney wrote:
> Lyle
> 
> Try http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/
> 
> paul
> 
> 
> 
> On 26/07/2012 23:16, Lyle E. Browning wrote:
>> Tangent Warning:
>> 
>> I have again encountered a Poncirus trifoliata in my surveys, 
>> fortunately not up close and personal, but from a revisited and 
>> updated survey I did in 1991. So, in looking up when it entered use in 
>> the USA, nobody got nuttin, apart from generalities. A native of China 
>> and Korea and able to stand cold weather. OK, fine. But it's all over 
>> the south and mid-west and is used as a hedge at Fort Knox. This thing 
>> has thorns that do serious damage at least 10 feet before they stick 
>> you and they go through anything.
>> 
>> In general my question is: has anyone done a list of plants that have 
>> immigrated to North America and when their first mention in the lit or 
>> other notice was recorded?
>> 
>> Tulips and daffodils were once more valuable than gold. Other plants 
>> have medicinal as well as "keep away" values, as is seen if you Google 
>> the nasty little plant. Vinca major and Vinca minor area associated 
>> with ornamental beds and with graveyards. Poinsettias come from the 
>> Mexican War if I remember correctly and Yucca is either the Sp-Am War 
>> or perhaps western expansion.
>> 
>> My long way around question is whether anyone has done a list of 
>> plants and when they first appear? And if so, is it computerized?
>> 
>> Thanks in advance,
>> 
>> Lyle Browning, RPA
>>