(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.