(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.