(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.