(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.