(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.