(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.