(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.