(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.