dendritic

Dendritic drainage systems (from Greek δενδρίτης, dendrites, “of or pertaining to a tree”) are the most common form of drainage system.

In a dendritic system, there are many contributing streams (analogous to the twigs of a tree), which are then joined together into the tributaries of the main river (the branches and the trunk of the tree, respectively).

They develop where the river channel follows the slope of the terrain.