(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.