State Symbols By Kristi Fleming Murchison Middle School Fall 2007

1. State Symbols By Kristi Fleming Murchison Middle School Fall 2007

2. Important Basic Facts About Texas • 254 Counties in Texas • 2nd Largest State (Alaska is bigger) • Texas was once an independent nation and the only state that was admitted to the Union by treaty. The Republic of Texas lasted from 1836-1845. • We won our independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. • Texas was the 28th state admitted to the Union of the United States in 1845. • The name Texas is derived from the Caddo Indian word Tejas meaning “friend”, “friendly” or “allies.” • The state motto is “Friendship”

3. France 1685-1690 Spain 1519-1685 1690-1821 Mexico 1821-1836 Confederacy 1861-1865 Republic of Texas 1836-1845 United States 1845-1861 1865-present • Although six flags have flown over Texas, there have been eight changes of government: • Spanish 1519-1685 Republic of Texas 1836-1845 • French 1685-1690 United States 1845-1861 • Spanish 1690-1821 Confederate States 1861-1865 • Mexican 1821-1836 • United States 1865-present

4. The Texas State Seal Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1839 The front of the Texas State Seal shows a live oak branch (to represent strength) and an olive branch (to represent peace) tied together with a ribbon. In the center is a 5-poined star that is either white or gold. By law, the seal is required to authenticate official documents of the state. The reverse of the seal was designed and adopted in 1991. The shield in the center shows the cannon of Gonzales on the bottom left, Vince’s Bridge on the bottom right and the Alamo at the top. The shield is surrounded by the unfurled Six Flags of Texas. The mottos “REMEMBER THE ALAMO” and “TEXAS ONE AND INDIVISIBLE” are emblazoned above and below the shield, respectively. The shield is also surrounded by a live oak branch and an olive branch and topped off with a white 5-pointed star.

5. State Flower: Bluebonnet (Lupinus Texensis) Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1901 Also sometimes called the Buffalo Clover, Wolf Flower and el conjeo (the rabbit). Texas Bluebonnet Tartan "The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland." -Historian Jack Maguire

6. State Tree: Pecan Tree Carya illinoinensis Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1919 The mature pecan tree is usually 70 to 100 feet tall, but can grow as tall as 150 feet and higher. The native pecan trees shown are estimated to be over 150 years old. Their trunks are more than three feet in diameter. Texas is the largest producer of native pecans, and is second only to Georgia in the production of hybrid (orchard grown) varieties. The pecan became the Texas state tree by act of the Texas Legislature in 1919. Governor James Hogg favored the tree so much that he requested that one be planted at his gravesite.

7. State Bird: Mockingbird (mimus polyglottos) Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1927 The Mockingbird has a variety of calls. It mimics many other birds' calls, and can sing for hours. Its scientific name, Mimus polyglottos, means "Mimic of many tongues.” The Mockingbird is also VERY protective of it’s territory. You may often find it attacking dogs and cats who get too close to it’s protected nesting area.

8. The Official Mammals of Texas State Flying Mammal: Mexican free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995 Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Mexico and most of the western and southern U.S. The largest colony is found at Bracken Cave, north of San Antonio, Texas, with nearly 20 million bats. The largest urban bat colony in North America is found under the Congress Street Bridge in Austin. Anywhere from 750,000 to 1.5 million bats live under the bridge. The peak season for watching the bats is August. State Small Mammal: Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995 State Large Mammal: Texas Longhorn Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1969 First driven to Texas by the Spaniards in 1690 to be used in the missions.

9. State Plant: Prickly Pear Cactus State Grass: Sideoats Grama Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1971 Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995 State Shrub: Crape Myrtle State Fiber & Fabric: Cotton Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997 Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997

10. State Dish: Chili State Gem: Texas Blue Topaz Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1977 Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1969 State Seashell: Lightning Whelk The Texas Blue Topaz is found only in Texas in the Llano uplift area, especially west to northwest of Mason. Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1987 The Lightening Whelk is one of the few left opening shells. It is only found on the Gulf Coast.

11. State Fish: Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculi) Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1989 Guadalupe bass are found only in Texas. Guadalupe bass are typically inhabit flowing water, including the headwaters of the San Antonio River, the Guadalupe River, the Colorado River, and portions of the Brazos River.

12. State Reptile: Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1993 Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995 The Texas horned lizard was one of the first animals to be listed as a threatened species in Texas (1977). The invasion of Texas by the fire ant and the consequent extensive use of insecticides in an attempt to control them, has at the same time reduced the population of harvester ants, greatly diminishing the food supply for the horned lizard. State Insect: Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

13. State Fruit: Texas Red Grapefruit Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997 The first reported planting of a grapefruit grove in Texas was 1893. Dr. Richard Hensz of the Texas A&M Citrus Center spent many years in the laboratory, working to produce the reddest grapefruit. To differentiate the Texas sweet, red grapefruit - a superior tasting grapefruit - from those other grapefruit, the industry now markets its fruit under two registered trademarked categories: Ruby-Sweet and Rio Star. State Pepper: Jalapeño Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995 State Vegetable: Texas Sweet Onion Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997 The onion was considered as valuable as gold in the Middle Ages and has long been a symbol of eternity due to their structural composition of layers within layers forming a sphere. The onion has amazingly been the focus of some mighty strange legislation over the years. For example, in Nacogdoches, Texas, it's against the law for "young women" to indulge in any raw onions after 6 pm.

14. Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995 State Ship: Battleship Texas State Folk Dance: Square Dance Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1991 State Musical Instrument: Guitar State Sport: Rodeo Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1991 Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997

15. State Dinosaur: Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleurocoelus Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997 Like everything in Texas, this dinosaur was big. Pleurocoelus was anywhere from 30 to 60 feet long and weighed 20 - 45 tons, and was built something like a large reptilian giraffe. Its bones are found in the Glen Rose Limestone of the central part of the state, along with tracks given the name . Many scientists believe that Brontopodus tracks are the footprints of Pleurocoelus individuals.