(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.