(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.