(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.