(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.