(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.