(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.