(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.