(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.