(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.