(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.