(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.