(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.