Apex emarginate

An apex is emarginate if the most apical part of the lamina convexly curves towards the base of the lamina (Figures AB-AD).

AB) Emarginate apex.	AC) Emarginate apex.	AD) Emarginate apex.

Note: Insect related damage can cause a somewhat similar notched apex that tends to have irregular sides and is excluded from the emarginated category.

Apex round

An apex is round if the most apical fourth of the lamina has a margin that convexly curves and the two sides meet to form a curve (Figures AE to AH). Note that Figure AG shows a leaf with a borderline emarginate apex and could legitimately be scored as having the emarginate form. In Figure AF there is a very small apical projection; this is ignored as it is so small.

AE) Round apex.	AF) Round apex.	AG) Round apex.	AH) Round apex.

Apex acute

An apex is acute if the most apical fourth of the lamina has a margin that is straight and the two sides form a point (Figures AI to AL).

AI) Acute apex	AJ) Acute apex	AK) Acute apex	AL) Acute apex

Apex attenuate

An apex is attenuate if, in the most apical fourth of the lamina, the margin on both sides changes from a linear or convex margin to a concave margin and the concave margin extends for a distance of at least one centimetre (Figures AM - AP).

The necessity in the attenuate category for both sides to change curvature thus excludes many falcate laminae, which typically have a change of curvature on only one side and are considered to have acute apices.

AM) Attenuate apex	AN) Attenuate apex	AO) Attenuate apex	AP) Attenuate apex