(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.