(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.