(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.