(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.