(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.