(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.