(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.