Reticulation

The interdependence of processes in organisms may be represented by interlocking or interlacing hierarchies, or vertical tree structures. The meeting points of the branches from neighbouring tree structures form horizontal networks at several levels. Without the tree structures, the network formation (reticulation) would not be possible. Similarly, without the network formation, the individual hierarchies would be isolated, and there would be no integration of functions. Reticulation need not be thought of as necessarily constituted by two contrasting processes or as an abcissa and ordinate pair of axes, or as vertical and horizontal, since such distinctions may be apparent rather than essential. Why, for example is hierarchical, vertical ? Further, the reticulated network may consist of any number of crossing lines or chains, and not just two. In addition, reticulation may not be regular or symmetric. An imperfect spider-web in some cases may better represent those relationships which are said not to be arboreal (branching).