(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.