(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.