(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.