(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.