(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.