Calyx are gamosepalous, valvate, sepaloid. The reduced petals are valvate, or rarely absent. Sepals are connate (i.e. fused) and valvate (i.e. not overlapping). The capsules are normally septicidal or rarely loculicidal or valvate. The flowers are polygamous, with a unitary calyx opening into two or three valvate sepals. The leaf buds are green, with valvate bud scales. Sepals 3, valvate, connate at base. The corolla lobes are nearly valvate in bud, being subimbricate at the apex. The calyx is five-parted and persistent; lobes are valvate in bud. Sepals 5, gamosepalous, campanulate, slightly accrescent, persistent, valvate. Petals 4 or 5(-8 or more), valvate . They generally have five valvate sepals, most frequently basally connate, with five imbricate petals. The pistillate flowers are ovoid with three broad, imbricate sepals and as many valvate petals. They have two to six free, valvate sepals, though they are united in "Drimys". Pedicellariae are often valvate, and the gonads are located at the interradius.