(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.