(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.