(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.