(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.