(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.