(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.