(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.