(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.