(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.