(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.