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
>
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