(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.