Dichotomous branching

The way Aloidendron dichotomum stems branch is called dichotomous. Dichotomy in botany means repeated branching into two equal parts.

It begins in the centre of the rosette when two centres replace the single one in a split, gradually moving away from each other, driven by invisible forces of growth operating inside.

Smooth, separate stem parts below the stem-tip rosettes come into play much later when the dropping off of lower leaves result in yet another fork, the leaves receding upwards from it.