(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.