Some genera show syncarpy, flowers can be solitary but often aggregated in cymose inflorescences
Distribution: Restricted to the southern hemisphere, Malaysia, Australia and Central/South America - not represented in the Texas flora
Floral structure:
Significant features: xylem without vessel elements and this appears to be a basal (not derived) condition. Closure of the carpel not complete in some taxa. Often positioned, especially Drimys winteri, as the most archaic extant angiosperm.
