(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.