14) The trail now turns right and decends into the ravine. As you cross the creek look at the limestone exposed in the streambed to your left. The depressions in the rock a few feet away are dinosaur tracks. These tracks were discovered by a motel guest in early 1994 and have been confirmed by an archeologist as those of an Allosaurus "other lizard." The Allosaurus existed 156-130 million years ago during the later part of the Jurassic period. It was one of the biggest carnivorous dinosaurs before the tyrannosaurids at a length of 36 feet and weighing 1.5-2 tons.

15) As the trail begins to ascend the slope, look around for a shrub with leaflets smaller than the eraser on a pencil. This is a fragrant mimosa (Mimosa borealis), a species that is easily overlooked except when it is covered in pink flowerballs during the spring. If you get too close you may encounter some of its thorns. Because loose clothing is easily snagged on these thorns, some people call this shrub "wait-a-bit."

15a) Also notice the large number os saplings coming uo in this area. Escarpment black cherry (Prunus serotina var. eximia), Texas oak, and Texas redbud are some of the hardwoods that are regenerating on this comparatively moist eastfacing slope. Plant communities are always changing; in years to come this area will be shaded by the same oaks and cherries that today are only a few feet tall.

16) On this drier upper slope you can see yet another of the succulent species common in exposed areas. Devil's shoestring (Nolina lindheimeri) looks like a huge clump of grass, but if you touch the leaves-careful, they're sharp if rubbed the wrong way-you'll notice that they're covered by a thick skin that slows water loss.

17) Take a look at the fourth sumac species on the property. This small tree is called flameleaf sumac (Rhus lanceolata) because its leaves turn a fiery red in fall.

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