(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.