(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.