(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.