(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.