(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.