(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.