(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.