(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.