(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.