(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.