(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.