The Western Cross Timbers is a mosaic of sandy post oak and thin black soil live oak-savannahs. The final stage growth that stays in balance for centuries, is characterized by waist-high little bluestem and full growth timber. Grassland damage from a severe drought might be compared to later dairy-decimation and cattle-penning in general. The ground appears rubble-strewn, Opuntia and spiny, immature cedar elm, skunkbush sumac, mesquite, and chittamwood-ringed thickets hide a few surviving bunches of native grass and second-growth oaks, waiting for their habitat to return. Hordes of undisciplined mesquites and cedars begin to rise in the absence of prairie fires. Texas broomweed (Xanthocephlum texanum) migrated into Erath County thousands of years ago during the Altithermal megadrought, like Opuntia, it can only reach its full potential when there is no root competition. Broomweed matures as green globes that form a canopy covering the land like ticks, sucking out the moisture. Broomweed’s globes and tiny yellow flowers present a photo-op for oblivious tourists. If cattle are removed, a good hot fire will push broomweed from its place of dominance, then grasses will migrate in to cover the area. I’ve seen little bluestem rise to waist-high in 40 years from bare ground without seeding. In the next several posts I’ll explain how sumac can help restore a nature grassland.