(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.