(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.