(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.