(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.