(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.