(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.