... picked up a desert plant in Texas... can be very dangerous. Tourists do it, but removing plants from "Federal Land" can lead to hefty fines, and removing particular kinds can be a real disaster. Of course one can also purchase most of the ones that are attractive from Texas retailers, but one should be aware that the wild ones ain't necessarily for the takin'.

Tourists pick up small bits of petrified wood in some of the national parks too, but that also can land one in jail.

John