(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.