(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.