(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.