(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.