(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.