(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.