(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.