(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.