(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.