(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.