(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.