In the manner or arrangement of a checkerboard; in an alternating pattern.
From 'checker' combined with '-wise' (suffix meaning 'in the manner of'). A formation used since at least the 17th century in English to describe checkerboard-like arrangements.
When plants are arranged checkerwise in agriculture, it's done to maximize spacing and sunlight—it's an example of humans copying checkerboard patterns because they actually work efficiently.
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