(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.