Influence of tree height and age on leaf drip-tip morphology in lowland tropical rain forest trees

This dataset comprises leaf morphological measurements from 23 focal tree
species within the Yasuní Forest Dynamics Plot in Yasuní National Park,
Ecuador. It includes data from both saplings and adult trees, sampled in
2022 and compared with herbarium specimens collected during the plot’s
establishment (1995–1997). Each entry documents species identity,
life-history strategy, developmental stage, and detailed leaf traits,
including lamina dimensions, drip-tip presence and length, and drip-tip
ratios. The dataset is structured across two components: (1) leaf-level
measurements for over 1,400 samples, and (2) individual-level comparisons
of leaf apex morphology over time. Data quality annotations (e.g.,
herbivory, apex damage) are included. This resource supports trait-based
ecological analyses, ontogenetic studies, and long-term morphological
change assessments in tropical forest trees. Reuse potential includes
comparative morphology and climate adaptation research.