(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.