(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.