(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.