(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.