(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.