Bowiea volubilis subsp. volubilis branching stems

The small branches emerging from a single Bowiea volubilis subsp. volubilis stem resemble the reticulated streets, electricity network or water supply system connecting houses of a suburb, although there are not much in the line of leaves, flowers and fruits out of season.

They also resemble the tributaries of river systems, water flowing from a multitude of the tiniest creeks down to the large river in the valley, en route to the sea. The flow of nutrient carrying moisture in the plant veins consists of both the to and from transportation between stem and root extremities. This happens on a continuous basis through all live plant parts.

The dedicated channels transport their loads in one of the two directions, up or down, at speeds in accordance with seasonal growth and metabolic rates. More branches (without leaks) are being built continuously without fuss, inspiring city engineers contemplating improvement. All this happens without supervision or computers calculating logistics.