Identificaciones de prairie_rambler

this observation is in the Headwaters Sanctuary, Oak Trail. It is a waist high shrub or small tree that has wicked sharp thorn growing at right angles to the branches. Mature wood is pale grey. Leaves are small medium green and serrated edges. But the leaves are not tough or hairy, as you can see they light passes through the leaf structure. Because this plant is at the trail edge, I am not sure if this form is normal, or is a result of trail clearing cutting to back to the ground last year.

Along an isolated gravel road where the soil was so thin and hard-baked that only ankle-high vegetation could get a foothold; in the valley of the Dry Frio River in northern Uvalde County, southwestern Texas, on the southern border of the Edwards Plateau; elevation ~1750m (~5750 ft)