Valvate aestivation is characterized by sepals or petals doing what?

• A. They are fused at the base
• B. They overlap in any direction
• C. They overlap in a directional pattern
• D. They just touch at margins without overlapping

Answer: (D)

Valvate aestivation describes how sepals or petals meet in a bud: their margins come together edge to edge and simply touch, with no part of one segment overlapping another. This edge-to-edge contact creates a neat seam as the flower opens. In contrast, patterns that involve overlapping margins (imbricate or contorted) have parts that cover or twist over neighboring parts, which is why those descriptions don’t fit valvate. So the correct choice—touch at margins without overlapping—matches the defining feature of valvate aestivation.