(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.