(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.