(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.