Hawthorn of some species?

The leaves don't have the serrations that are typical for Crataegus. Crataegus is a complicated genus that can confound the best botanists. I don't think this is a Crataegus species. Texture doesn't match either.

Could it be some sort of Bittersweet? Celastrus scandens maybe? It just reminds me of some I’ve seen while hiking in N. Texas, but I’m probably way off.

Here's our Ribes rotundifolium with fruit in Maryland. Do you have a counterpart in Texas?

Sticker Bush?

Klem1, do you have a scientific name for sticker bush? When I google sticker bush a multitude of pictures of different species show up. It's a vague, non-specific common name.

The leaves don't match any ribes species. Ribes leaves have distinct serration and lobes. Texture isn't right for ribes.

Google lens suggest Celastrum scandens and Celastrum orbiculata, but Bittersweet doesn't have thorns?

I don't need to use scientific names Jay, simply telling grandkids "don't mess with that sticker bush" works fine when we are out exploring. If blakrab has a need for scientific name of every plant he sees he can buy books and look them up. I don't tell kids "watch out for that Crotalus atrox" it isn't even neccessary to say "don't step this Western Diamondback rattlesnake" go around that rattler works ever time. If it isn't one of the four venomous we call all the other 50 chicken snakes.

Well then whats the point in commenting if noone knows what plant you are referring to Klem1? We're not kids getting into trouble, we're adults who need scientific names. Everyone in this forum needs to use scientific names, or common names that identify a species (with no room for doubt).

Macranthos, Celtis pallida is the closest suggestion so far. The upper leaf surface is supposed to feel rough, but they look really glossy? It's worth persuing more.

This forum is about helping people, first and foremost, through the identification of plants. Common names can be, and often are, applied to multiple species of plants that are totally unrelated. We know from experience with blackrab that he is curious about plants, and wants both the common name AND scientific name. We are happy to supply them both when we can. Sharing knowledge doesn't cost us a thing.

We have no problem with using common names that immediately give the plant an identity, like Poison Ivy or Creeping Charlie because most of us here already know they are Toxicodendron radicans and Glechoma hederacea, but Sticker Bush could be anything with thorns and is no help whatsoever. There are many plants that don't have common names. How do people who don't want to learn scientific names identify them? I've seen people asking for an ID for their Epipremnum aurea and seen 200 replies saying Devil's Ivy or grapevine, and not 1 reply stating the scientific name. I also see many people posting their plant app screenshots. It's sad that noone is interested in learning about the plants enough to familiarize themselves. It's pathetically sad that people now take pride in their plant apps, instead of taking pride in their own knowledge about plants.

"stickerbush" reminds me of other nearly meaningless terms for wild things in the US, like "hoot owl" and "buzzard".

Celtis pallida isn't found in Dallas. Maybe more photos with flowers would help. If the sun is overhead, can you take a picture of the foliage using yourself as a shade. I think sun bleached leaves in photos make it difficult to gauge leaf texture.