(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.