(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.