(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.