(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.