(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.