(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.