Aestivation (botany)
![A diagram showing some kinds of petal or sepal aestivation in flower buds. A: quincuncial; B,C: cochleate; D: contorted; E: valvate; F: open.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Aestivation5341.png")
![](/Images/godic/202501/05/Phlox_aestivation5341.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202501/05/Vinca_minor_aestivation5341.jpg")
Aestivation or estivation refers to the positional arrangement of the parts of a flower within a flower bud before it has opened. Aestivation is also sometimes referred to as praefoliation or prefoliation, but these terms may also mean vernation: the arrangement of leaves within a vegetative bud.