There was a great deal of variation in details of structure and condition of fairy circles, allowing circles to be categorized into a sequence from first appearance as a bare spot in the
grassy matrix (birth), acquisition of a rim of
tall bushman grass (with or without enlargement)(maturation), and revegetation of the bare
area within the grass rim (death), and finally the disappearance of the grass circle, leaving an
area indistinguishable from the matrix.