The tip or terminal end of a leaf blade. Leaf apices can have various shapes including pointed (acute), rounded (obtuse), or notched (emarginate), and are important diagnostic features.
From Latin 'apex' meaning 'tip,' 'point,' or 'summit.' The term has been used in botanical descriptions since the formal development of plant morphology terminology in the 18th century.
The leaf apex isn't just where the leaf ends - it's often where specialized cells called hydathodes release excess water through a process called guttation! Those morning water droplets on grass tips aren't dew, they're the plant's way of relieving water pressure.
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