Basically these are pine trees and trees like them.  It is the family of trees that have seeds in cones.  There are over 600 cone bearing plants but East Texas and our nature center have only a few.  With just a few more observations you will have identified your tree or shrub. The next step in your search is to find the genus of your plant.

If your plant has leaves less than an inch long and somewhat triangular with cones that look and feel like a berry Click Here

If your plant has needle like leaves – long and narrow with cones that dry and feel like wood Click Here

So now we know that the plant you want to identify is not a woody vine.  Well, it turns out that all other plants native to our nature center, fall into just two scientific classes.  To do this right one must learn a bit of science but for the moment just consider these two categories.

Your plant has cones and needles.  It stays green in the winter.  Click Here.
Your plant makes true flowers and has broad leaves that fall off in the winter.  Click Here