(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.