(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.