(equisetum)               
                                          
                                          
                                          
          the plant         
                                          
 the  equisetum  is  a  plant  much older 
 than  ferns,  which  are  in  turn  much 
 older than most trees.  it's light green 
 to  yellow  in  color  and  is  slightly 
               transparent.               
                                          
 the plant has a  spine. each vertebra is 
 stacked  upon the  next,  with spokelike 
 ribs radiating outward.  even  so,  it's 
 very light,  being hollow.  it's roughly 
 the height of a  foxes tail,  and shares 
            a similar plumage.            
                                          
 it  likes  partial shade and  very  damp 
                   areas                  
                                          
                                          
                                          
          in magic          
                                          
 when  a colony numbers  high  enough, it 
 slices  the  air   in  the  forest  into 
 separate  planes,  a few centimeters  in 
 height.   time  can  get  diffracted  in 
 these,  hitting   each   in  turn  in  a 
      slightly different angle, and       
         eventually spread thin.