TEXAS PROJECT

HERNNDEZ SILVA ADELA NAYELI

237-B

TEXAS

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States. The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in East Texas. Located in the South Central United States, Texas is bordered by Mexico to the south, New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east. Texas has an area of 268,820 square miles (696,200 km2), and a growing population of 25.1 million residents.

STATE FLAG

 The state flag is a rectangle that has a width to length ratio of two to three. It contains one blue vertical stripe that has a width equal to onethird the length of the flag, and two equal horizontal stripes, with the upper stripe white, the lower stripe red, and each having a length equal to two-thirds the length of the flag. The flag has one white, regular fivepointed star. The five-pointed star is located in the center of the blue stripe, oriented so that one point faces upward, and sized so that the

diameter of a circle passing through the five points of the star is equal to
three-fourths the width of the blue stripe. The red and blue of the state flag are the same colors used in the United States flag. The red, white, and blue of the state flag represent, respectively, bravery, purity and loyalty.

TEXAS MOTTO
The state motto of Texas is simply "friendship." The word Texas is from a Caddo Indian word "teyshas" meaning "friends" or "allies" .

TEXAS SEALS
The state seal is required by law to be affixed to numerous documents, such as commissions for elected and appointed state and local officials; patents for land from the state; executive acts of the governor in criminal cases such as remissions of fines, reprieves, commutations of punishment, extraditions, and pardons; state bonds; and all official documents issued from the office of the secretary of state. The state arms and reverse of the state seal are used exclusively as symbols of the state and do not have any independent legal significance. Private use of the state seal, including the state arms and reverse of the state seal, is regulated

by law. The state seal may be used for commercial purposes only if a license is obtained from the secretary of state and royalties are paid to the state. Persons seeking more information on private use of the state seal should contact the office of the secretary of state. Additionally, it is a criminal

offense for a person other than a political officeholder knowingly to use a representation of the state
seal in political advertising.

BLUEBONNET

 Named for its color and, it is said, the resemblance of its petal to a woman's sunbonnet, the bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. It blooms in the early spring and can be readily found in fields and along the roadsides throughout central and south Texas.Scientifically named Lupinus texensis, the bluebonnet is also called buffalo clover, wolf flower, and (by the Mexicans) el conejo. It was adopted as the official state flower by the Texas Legislature in 1901.

THE TEXAS STATE BIRD: MOCKINGBIRD

 Ask any Texan, and you will no doubt learn that the mockingbird has the prettiest song of any bird native to North America. That's perhaps the chief reason the "mocker" was adopted as the state bird of Texas in 1927. The song of the mockingbird is, in fact, a medley of the calls of many other birds. Each imitation is repeated two or three times, then another song is started, all in rapid succession. . It is common for an individual bird to have as many as 25-30 songs in its repertory. The mockingbird is also known as a fierce protector of its nest and environment. It is sometimes seen swooping down on a dog, cat or predator that may be venturing too close to the bird's protected territory. The mimus polyglottos, as the mockingbird is known scientifically, is about ten inches in length, including its relatively long tail. It has a light gray coat and a whitish underside. Its wings and tail are darker gray with white patches.

TEXAS FISH

Texas designated the Guadalupe bass (Micropterus treculi) as the official state fish in 1989. The Guadalupe bass is found only in Texas, native to fast moving streams in the central Hill Country (including the headwaters of the San Antonio, Guadalupe, and Colorado Rivers).

THE TEXAS STATE SONG: "TEXAS, OUR TEXAS"

 "Texas, Our Texas," the official state song of Texas, was

adopted by the Legislature in 1929 after being selected in a state-wide competition. It was composed by William J. Marsh of Fort Worth. The lyrics were written by Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright.The song is comprised of three verses and a chorus, as follows:

 "Texas, Our Texas" Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State! Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great! Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest. (chorus) Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star, Sends out its radiance to nations near and far, Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow, With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

 (chorus) Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free, Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny! Mother of heroes, we come your children true, Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you. Chorus God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long. God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

THE TEXAS STATE TREE: PECAN

The pecan is a large tree native to North America. It bears sweet edible nuts, deep brown in color, that range from 1 to 2 inches in length. The mature pecan tree is usually 70 to 100 feet tall, as shown above, 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.

TEXAS RED GRAPEFRUIT

The Texas red grapefruit was designated the official state fruit by
the 73rd Legislature in 1993. Texas red grapefruit is grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Texas produces the following trademarked categories of grapefruit:

 Ruby-Sweet
Includes the famous Ruby Red, and other redder varieties - Henderson and Ray. Its smooth, yellow skin is naturally tinged with a reddish blush, and an interior color 3 to 5 times redder than the Ruby Red. Rio Star Combines the two reddest varieties - Rio Red and Star Ruby grapefruit. It has an overall blush on the exterior peel with a deep red interior color which is 7 to 10 times redder than the Ruby Red. Flame Red but not too red, with the same sweet, delectable taste as the Ruby-Sweet and Rio Star. Available at certain times from October through May.

PEPPER: JALAPEO

The popularity of hot peppers has been growing since Columbus introduced them to the Americas. Within a century, hot chilies enhanced meals worldwide. The United State's demand for jalapeos keeps rising 50 to 20 percent a year due to the popularity of Mexican and Tex Mex foods. Americans' consumption of jalapeo-flavored tortilla and potatoe chips in 1991 came to 17 million pounds which makes this a valuable crop in Texas and the United States. The demand for this crop keeps increasing as grocery stores demand more jalapeos to stockpile on their shelves. Most Texas grown jalapeos end up in salsas or hot sauces. National sauce sales research showed that $674 million (41 million gal.) was produced in 1991, and Texas produced more than one-half of that.

T H E T E X A S S TAT E I N S E C T: M O N A R C H B U T T E R F LY
The Monarch Butterfly became the Texas state insect by a 1995 resolution of the state
legislature. The resolution was introduced by Representative Arlene Wohlgemuth on behalf of students in her district.The Monarch is unique among butterflies in that it is the only species of butterfly that does not hibernate, but migrates in changing seasons. It undergoes four changes in form (metamorphoses) during its lifetime: It begins as a tiny egg. In the second stage it becomes a black, yellow and white striped caterpillar (larva). During this stage, the caterpillar sheds its skin (molts) up to four times as it grows to its full length of about two inches.

 In its third stage, the monarch forms a protective covering called a chrysalis, or pupa. This pupa is shiny and green with gold speckles. In its final stage, the monarch emerges from the pupa as a beautiful black and orange butterfly.

This entire process takes about a month. There are

usually three to four generations of monarchs produced each year.

TEXAS CHILI

This is a spicy stew brewed with pride in Texas. Many communities have "chili cookoffs" to see who can make the hottest chili!

THANKSGIVING IN TEXAS
An annual Thanksgiving Day tradition for almost 60 years, the HEB Holiday Parade signifies the official beginning of the holiday season in the Houston area.