(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.